Decreased Global Interest in Oral Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Junhel Dalanon,Yoshizo Matsuka

doi:10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.7.2117

Junhel Dalanon, Yoshizo Matsuka

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.7.2117

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Abstract

Objective:Oral cancer is one of the most common malignancies in developing countries, but studies using global data are scarce. The aim of this study is to analyze the search interests for oral cancer using mouth cancer, tongue cancer, gum cancer, and lip cancer as common keywords. Methods:Internet searches relating to oral cancer from 2010 to 2020, from 250 countries and dependent areas, were retrieved from Google Trends. Color densities in a heat map were used to show geographic differences. Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc Dunn’s analysis was used to perform yearly comparisons of searches for mouth cancer, tongue cancer, gum cancer, and lip cancer. Search results within 2020 were also compared to determine differences. Forecasting searches from 2021 to 2022 were done by fitting time series models. Results:From 29 of 250 (11.6%) countries, the highest search values were observed for mouth cancer in Sri Lanka, Qatar, Bangladesh, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, and France. Compared to 2020, greater searches were seen in 2018 (Mdn = 91%, P = 0.023) and 2019 (Mdn = 94%, P = 0.012) for mouth cancer, and 2019 (Mdn = 17%, P = 0.035) for lip cancer. The relative search volumes for gum cancer and lip cancer were substantially lower than mouth cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion:Higher-income countries tend to be more interested in seeking information about oral cancer. Noteworthy decline in the interest in seeking information online for oral cancer may have crucial implications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Google Trends offer an invaluable and inexpensive means for oral cancer surveillance and health-seeking behavior.

Highlights

Worldwide, oral cancer is the 15th leading cause of death and 16th most common malignancy
The relative search volumes for gum cancer and lip cancer were substantially lower than mouth cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Data Search and Retrieval The search terms “mouth cancer” (MC), “tongue cancer” (TC), “gum cancer” (GC), and “lip cancer” (LC) under the category of “health”, “web search” as database, from January 2010 to December 2020, and “worldwide” as location were used in Google Trends (GT) as search parameters

Summary

Introduction

Oral cancer is the 15th leading cause of death and 16th most common malignancy. The oral cancer incidence of four per 100, 000 cases vary depending on countries, races, age, gender, and socioeconomic situations (Ferlay et al, 2019). The risk factors for oral cancer include genetic and environmental factors, and physical conditions. 657, 000 new instances and 330, 000 subsequent deaths due to oral cancer have been reported worldwide each year. Excessive drinking, and smoking are health-related behaviors that could lead to heightened risk of oral cancer occurrence. Socioeconomic status has been emphasized and linked to increased oral cancer incidence, it has been shown that highly urbanized areas had have greater risk for cancer as well (Hung et al, 2020)

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