Seasonal changes of internet searching suggest circannual rhythmicity of primary headache disorders

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether web searching for headache disorders presents some circannual rhythm.Background: Studies support the influence of seasonal rhythms in primary headache disorders such as cluster headache (CH) and episodic migraine. We investigated whether internet users' searching for headaches reflect these circannual rhythms. Methods:This was an internet-based study using the Google Trends (Google) platform. The 10-year interest across four related topics (headache, migraine, tensiontype headache [TTH], and CH) in 31 European countries was scanned.Results: Significant differences between months were found for the topics "headache" and "migraine." Interest in the former was superior in February (median for all countries, 61 [25th-75th percentile, 45-80]), ), and November (61 [45-76]). The lowest search volumes for headache appeared in July (52 [37-66]) (p < 0.001). Migraine was searched most commonly in ) and rarely in June (46.5 [31-64]) (p < 0.001). Differences were observed for the topic of headache in Northern Europe (p = 0.001) and for headache and migraine in Central Europe (p < 0.001 and p = 0.016 respectively) but not in the southern region. TTH and CH were apparently less searched and no evident trends regarding them were present (median, 22 [0-44] for for CH; direct popularity comparison: headache 56 [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63], migraine 16 [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], TTH 2 [1-2], and CH 2 [1][2]; between-month differences, p = 0.168 and p = 0.081 respectively).Conclusions: Public attention on headache-related topics on the internet is distributed according to a significant trend of increased searching around spring and autumn. It suggests that a large number of patients may experience some level of seasonal variation in their headaches. Assessment of whether those temporal changes are present in clinical practice is necessary.

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“…These migraineurs also reported interictal light hypersensitivity, ligh sure as a precipitating factor, and frequent use of sunglasses to prevent attacks [ other study showed that female migraineurs with aura had a marked seasonal va with more attacks during the light season [39]. A recent study using Google Trend that interest in headaches and migraine peaked in February, October, and Novem was lowest in July [40]. These studies suggest that many migraineurs may experie sonal variations in their headaches and that further study is required in clinical p…”

Artificial intelligence and social media: (Appropriately) harnessing headache medicine's new arsenal in the 21st century

“…Such awareness for patients can inform the usefulness of various behavioral adaptations (even restrictions) that they may apply to themselves on a daily basis in order to mitigate "attack risk". Furthermore, Radziwon et al 8 looked at internet-user searching to confirm the clinical observation that some primary headache disorder activity (cluster and migraine) can be seasonal; hence, using public attention to the topic as a marker of disease prevalence.…”

“…Furthermore, Radziwon et al 8 . looked at internet‐user searching to confirm the clinical observation that some primary headache disorder activity (cluster and migraine) can be seasonal; hence, using public attention to the topic as a marker of disease prevalence.…”

Digital epidemiology, biological rhythms, and headache disorders

“…4 The paper entitled "Seasonal changes of internet searching suggest circannual rhythmicity of primary headache disorders" by Radziwon and Waszak. 5 published in this journal edition brings an interesting example of how digital epidemiology can shed light into biological mechanisms.…”