Trends in Online Health Information Searches on Sleep Disorders During the First Seven Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global rise in sleep disorders, serving as a critical indicator of societal mental health. This study aims to examine the trends in health information searches related to sleep disorders during the first seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, comparing these trends with the same period two years prior. Methods: This descriptive study analyzed the internet search behavior of Iranians seeking health information between 2017 and 2022. Data were collected on sleep disorder-related searches during the initial seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran using Google Trends. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to compare the volume and percentage of searches related to sleep disorders during the pandemic with those in the corresponding periods of the previous years. Additionally, Pearson's correlation was used to assess the relationship between the daily trends in COVID-19-related deaths and the volume of internet searches concerning sleep disorders. Results: The volume of searches related to sleep disorders significantly increased (p<0.001) during the first seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran compared to the same period in the two preceding years. These searches initially exhibited an upward trend, followed by a decline, eventually stabilizing. A strong (r = 0.8) and significant (p<0.05) correlation was observed between the number of sleep disorder-related searches and the number of COVID-19-related deaths during the early months of the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in searches for information on sleep disorders, potentially driven by heightened anxiety and lifestyle changes during this period.