Web search trends on fibromyalgia: development of a machine learning model

Abstract

Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. The growing reliance on the internet for health-related information has transformed how individuals seek medical knowledge, particularly for complex conditions like FM. This study aimed to analyse online search behaviours related to FM across multiple countries, identify temporal trends, and assess machine learning models for predicting search interest.

Methods: Google Trends data (2020-2024) were analysed across sixteen countries. Time-series analysis, linear regression, and the Mann-Kendall trend test assessed monotonic trends, while seasonal decomposition identified periodic fluctuations. An Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model forecasted search volumes for 2025. Machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), were used to predict search trends, with feature importance evaluated using SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) values.

Results: Search interest in FM varied across countries, with China, the UK, the USA and Canada showing the highest engagement, while Peru, Spain and Turkey had the lowest. Brazil, Italy and the UK exhibited rising search trends, whereas Argentina, Canada, Greece and the USA showed declines. Seasonal analysis revealed mid-year peaks in Brazil and Italy, while Turkey saw late autumn increases. ARIMA forecasting predicted stable or increasing trends in Brazil, Canada and Mexico, while Germany and Venezuela showed slight declines. Machine learning analysis identified short-term search history (search volumes from the previous day, week, and month) as the most influential predictor.

Conclusions: Understanding online search behaviour can enhance FM education. Targeted awareness campaigns and improved digital health literacy initiatives could sustain engagement and improve patient knowledge. Future efforts should focus on optimising online health resources and integrating evidence-based decision aids.