Leveraging Internet Search Data to Improve the Prediction and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases: Retrospective Observational Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As human society enters an era of vast and easily accessible social media, a growing number of people are exploiting the internet to search and exchange medical information. Because internet search data could reflect population interest in particular health topics, they provide a new way of understanding health concerns regarding noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the role they play in their prevention.

Objective

We aimed to explore the association of internet search data for NCDs with published disease incidence and mortality rates in the United States and to grasp the health concerns toward NCDs.

Methods

We tracked NCDs by examining the correlations among the incidence rates, mortality rates, and internet searches in the United States from 2004 to 2017,

SUBMITTER: Xu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7691086 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature