Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the related infodemic generated confusion and increased demand of various pharmaceuticals, ushering in the opportunity for illicit online vendors to fill a gap in the marketplace using potentially dangerous products. The aim of our study is to provide evidence regarding increased demand, online availability and consumer accessibility of ivermectin, an anthelmintic agent, without substantiated indications in reference to SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we combined infodemiology methodology aligned with search engine result assessment and website analytics to evaluate patient safety risks. Users’ Google queries regarding ivermectin were trending and peaked during the last week of November 2020 and March 2021. Consumers more likely found links leading directly or indirectly (via redirection) to illegal online retailers representing nearly half (53.3%) of search engine result links regarding the first three result pages in December 2020 and topped off at 73.3% by March 2021. Illicit medicine retailers outnumbered and outranked their legitimate counterparts and dominated the first search engine results page. A vast majority (77.7%) of the identified online pharmacies were characteristically rogue; more than half (55.5%) offered prescription-only products without a valid medical prescription. Our results illustrate connection between infodemic and its consequences on the illicit online pharmacy market
Highlights
Published: 13 July 2021The online pharmacy market has undergone significant growth during the past two decades as society is shifting to a more digitalized world
The second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of confirmed cases throughout Hungary
Time series data regarding online search behavior associated with the term “ivermectin” and national COVID-19 data on cases indicate statistically significant correlation according to Pearson correlation analysis (R value = 0.827, p ≤ 0.01)
Summary
Published: 13 July 2021The online pharmacy market has undergone significant growth during the past two decades as society is shifting to a more digitalized world. There are two broader categories of online vendors offering medications: legitimate internet pharmacy websites providing high-quality pharmacy services and illicit online sellers, which outnumber their legitimate competition [3,4]. It evolved into a vehicle for counterfeit vendors since the online space ideally conceals the identity of illegitimate sellers and confuses consumers [5].
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