Google Trend's Perspective: Lung Transplant Following COVID-19

PURPOSE: Lung transplant is considered a last resource surgical therapy for non-resolving COVID-19-associated acute distress respiratory syndrome (ARDS) and refractory hypoxemia. Google trends (GT) is an ongoing-developing web-kit providing feedback on specific general population's interests. This study uses GT to analyze the United States (US) general population interest in LT as COVD-19/ARDS salvage therapy. METHODS: GT was used to access data searched for the term lung transplant. The gathered information included data from January 2016 through October 2021 within US territories. Search frequency, time intervals, sub-regions, frequent topics of interest, and related searches were analyzed. Data was reported as search frequency on means, and a value of 100 represented overall peak popularity. RESULTS: The number of Google searches related to the term lung transplant has remained steady interest over time and surged in congruence with the appearance of COVID-19 in the US. From January 2016 until February 2019, interest has ranged from 29 to 58% (average 40%). Following the COVID-19 surge, average interest shifted up to 49%, with an all-time increase in November 2019, February 2020, and June 2020, of 90, 65 and 100%. Over time, the lead frequency of searches in sub-regions, metro areas, and cities, were Pennsylvania, Gainesville, FL, and Philadelphia, PA, respectively. Top related topic and top related query in search frequency, over time are electronic cigarette and lung transplant covid. At a glance, medical-relevant websites fail to provide adequate information for LT patient therapeutic education (PTE). CONCLUSION: GT complements the understanding of interest in LT, especially in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic's perspective. When properly interpreted, the use of these trends can potentially improve on PTE and therapy awareness via specific medical relevant websites.