Google Trends Analysis Shows Increasing Public Interest in Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is a chronic musculoskeletal condition that frequently affects the hip and knee joints. Given the burden associated with surgical intervention for hip and knee osteoarthritis, patients continue to search for potential nonoperative treatments. One biologic therapy with mixed clinical and basic science evidence for treating osteoarthritis is platelet-rich plasma injections into the affected joint. We used the Google Trends tool to provide a quantitative analysis of national interest in platelet-rich plasma injections for hip and knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: Google Trends parameters were selected to obtain search data from January 2009 to December 2019. Various combinations of "arthritis," "osteoarthritis," "PRP," "platelet-rich plasma," "knee," and "hip" were entered into the Google Trends tool and trend analyses were performed.
RESULTS: Three linear models were generated to display search volume trends in the United States for platelet-rich plasma and osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, and knee osteoarthritis, respectively. All models showed increased Google queries as time progressed (P < .001), with R2 ranging from 0.837 to 0.940. Seasonal, income-related, and geographic variations in public interest in platelet-rich plasma for osteoarthritis were noted.
CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a significant rise in Google queries related to platelet-rich plasma injections for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee since 2009. Surgeons treating hip and knee osteoarthritis patients can expect continued interest in platelet-rich plasma, despite inconclusive clinical and basic science data. Trends in public interest may inform patient counseling, shared decision-making, and directions for future clinical research.