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. 2022 Oct 3:10:971525.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971525. eCollection 2022.

Online public attention toward allergic rhinitis in Wuhan, China: Infodemiology study using Baidu index and meteorological data

Yunfei Wang  1 , Ziang Gao  1 , Hao Lv  1 , Yu Xu  1
Affiliations

Online public attention toward allergic rhinitis in Wuhan, China: Infodemiology study using Baidu index and meteorological data

Yunfei Wang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: With the popularization of the Internet and medical knowledge, more and more people are learning about allergic rhinitis (AR) on the Internet.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and online public attention to AR in Wuhan, China, utilizing the most popular search engine in mainland China and meteorological data of Wuhan.

Methods: To study the Internet attention and epidemiological characteristics of AR in Wuhan, the search volume (SV) of "Allergic Rhinitis" in Mandarin and AR-related search terms from 1 January 2014 through 31 December 2021 were recorded. For user interest, the search and demand data were collected and analyzed.

Results: The yearly average Baidu SV of AR in both Wuhan and China increased year by year but began to decline gradually after the COVID-19 pandemic. Baidu SV of AR in Wuhan exhibited significant seasonal variation, with the first peak was from March to May and the second peak occurring between September and October. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between the monthly average SV of "Allergic Rhinitis" and "Mites" and "Mites + Pollen Allergy" in Wuhan, a weak positive correlation between the monthly average SV of "Allergic Rhinitis" and "Pollen Allergy," and a positive correlation between monthly SV of "Allergic Rhinitis" and the meteorological index of pollen allergy (MIPA).

Conclusion: The attention given to the topic on the internet, as measured by the search volume, was reflective of the situation in Wuhan, China. It has the potential to predict the epidemiological characteristics of AR and help medical professionals more effectively plan seasonal AR health education.

Keywords: Baidu index; COVID-19; Mites; allergic rhinitis; meteorological data; pollen allergy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The yearly search volume of “AR” in China and Wuhan through Baidu search engine from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Epidemiological characteristics of “AR” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The search volume of “Mites” related keywords and “AR” in China from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The search volume of “Mites” related keywords and “AR” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation between the search volume of “AR” and “Mites” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The search volume of “Pollen Allergy” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Correlation between the search volume of “AR” and “Pollen Allergy” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Correlation between the search volume of “AR” and “Pollen Allergy” in spring from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Correlation between the search volume of “AR” and “Pollen Allergy” in autumn from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The search volume of various airborne pollens in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 11
Figure 11
The search volume of “AR” and “Mites + Pollen Allergy” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Search volume correlation analysis of “AR” and “Mites + Pollen Allergy” in Wuhan from 2014 to 2021.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Demand graph of AR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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