P0203 - Unveiling Colon Cancer Insights Through Google Trends: Harnessing Digital Search Patterns for Public Health Surveillance and Awareness in the United States

Sunday, October 22, 2023

3:30 PM - 7:00 PM PT

Location: Exhibit Hall

Presenting Author(s)

Gagan P. Singh, MD

Howard University Hospital
Washington, DC

Gagan P. Singh, MD¹, King J. Pascual, MD¹, Suryanarayana Reddy Challa, MD¹, Mesay Asfaw, MD², Farshad Aduli, MD¹, Ahmed Ali, MD¹
¹Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC; ²Howard University Hospital, Takoma Park, MD

Introduction: Google Trends offers data on search volume index (SVI) of terms over time and across locations. Studies validate its correlation with disease incidence, making it a valuable epidemiological tool. Despite declining incidence over time, colon cancer remains the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the US, with certain areas reporting elevated rates. This study evaluates Google Trends' utility in colon cancer research, investigating links between colon cancer incidence, risk factors, and Google search trends.

Methods: The SVI for the term "colon cancer" was procured from Google Trends, collected from January 2017 to January 2023. This data was compared across different periods, specifically pre-COVID (2019) and post-COVID (2022) and was also aggregated by state. Public and government websites provided colon cancer incidence and risk factor data (including obesity rates, smoking prevalence, and average UV index) for states with the highest and lowest colon cancer SVIs. Comparison of means tests were employed to examine statistical significance.

Results: States with the highest SVIs for "colon cancer" were Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania, while the lowest were Utah, DC, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Idaho. The mean colorectal cancer incidence in states with the highest and lowest SVI was 41 and 34 per 100,000 people respectively (P=0.0284). Obesity prevalence was 35% in the top 5 states and 29% in the bottom 5 (P=0.0451). Smoking usage was 19.1% in the top 5 states and 13.6% in the bottom 5 (P=0.0388). Mean days of extreme UV index per year were 5.6 in the top 5 states and 75 in the bottom 5 (P=0.0678). States with higher SVIs had higher obesity and smoking rates, and fewer days of extreme UV index per year compared to states with the lowest SVIs. There was an increase in colon cancer searches post-COVID compared to pre-COVID years.

Discussion: Our study validates Google Trends as a powerful epidemiological instrument. The consistency of search data with CDC colorectal cancer incidence rates supports its reliability. The observed rise in colon cancer searches post-COVID suggests heightened public awareness, possibly due to screening disruptions. Importantly, Google Trends pinpointed states with higher colon cancer risk, guiding targeted health campaigns. In essence, Google Trends offers insightful disease trends, shaping swift public health actions and fostering long-term preventive strategies.

Figure: Image 1: Comparative Analysis of Cancer-Related Factors and Search Volume Index (SVI) for "Colon Cancer" Across States
A. Comparison of average smoking usage (%) in states with the highest and lowest SVI for "colon cancer".
B. Assessment of mean colorectal cancer incidence (per 100,000 individuals) in states with the highest and lowest SVI for "colon cancer".
C. Evaluation of average number of extreme UV index days (per year) in states with the highest and lowest SVI for "colon cancer".
D. Comparison of mean obesity prevalence (%) in states with the highest and lowest SVI for "colon cancer".
E. Trend analysis of monthly search volume index (SVI) for "colon cancer" before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
F. Assessment of the inverse relationship between "colon cancer" search volume and extreme UV exposure at the state level.

States with the highest* and lowest# google search volumes for "colon cancer" (SVI)	Colorectal cancer incidence per 100,000 people (Source: CDC)	Obesity Prevalence % (Source: CDC)	Smoking usage (Source: American Lung Association)	Number of days with extreme UV index per year (Source: National Weather Service)
*Kansas (100)	39.7	36	17.4	15
*Kentucky (96)	47.4	40.3	24.6	6
*Missouri (95)	39.6	37.3	20.8	5
*New York (91)	37.7	29.1	14.1	0
*Pennsylvania (90)	39.7	33.3	18.7	2
#Utah (72)	29	30.9	8.9	55
#District of Columbia (71)	35.4	24.7	14.3	4
#New Mexico (67)	33.2	34.6	17.5	107
#Hawaii (66)	39.4	25	12.8	186
#Idaho (66)	35.2	31.6	14.3	23

Table: Table 1: Comparison of Search Volume, Colorectal Cancer Incidence, Risk Factors, and UV Index in States with Highest and Lowest SVI for "Colon Cancer".

This table presents the search volume index (SVI) for "Colon Cancer" in states with the highest and lowest SVIs, along with the corresponding mean colorectal cancer incidence, mean obesity prevalence, mean smoking usage, and mean days of extreme UV index.

Disclosures:

Gagan Singh indicated no relevant financial relationships.

King Pascual indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Suryanarayana Reddy Challa indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Mesay Asfaw indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Farshad Aduli indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Ahmed Ali indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Gagan P. Singh, MD¹, King J. Pascual, MD¹, Suryanarayana Reddy Challa, MD¹, Mesay Asfaw, MD², Farshad Aduli, MD¹, Ahmed Ali, MD¹. P0203 - Unveiling Colon Cancer Insights Through Google Trends: Harnessing Digital Search Patterns for Public Health Surveillance and Awareness in the United States, ACG 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Vancouver, BC, Canada: American College of Gastroenterology.