Doctor of Dental Surgery Candidate University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Danville, California
Abstract: Global Interest in Various Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgical Treatments: A Google Trends Analysis
Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common global disease which can be treated surgically by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Many treatment options are available to be explored by physicians and their patients. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and modifications have reigned as most common treatments. However, when CPAP isn’t compatible with an individual’s needs, treatment can be achieved through various surgeries instead of or in conjunction with CPAP(1). Patients hold interests in researching these possible surgical solutions using the internet. An analysis of internet searches can help providers to understand the varying interest levels in each surgical treatment type for OSA. The purpose of this analysis is to understand which surgical OSA treatment options are most commonly searched, if there has been a recent change in interest, and which locations these searches are generated from, as a way to understand future demand for certain surgical procedures through providers increasing their knowledge of the public’s interest.
Methods and materials: Data was collected via Google Trends (GT) for the last 12 months, May 2021 to May 2022, to show current trends and from May 2020 to May 2021, in order to identify any significant changes in interest from then to 2022. GT analyzes countries in which certain terms are searched for and the relative search volumes (RSV) between the regions, reported as a score out of 100. A score of 100 signifies peak interest in the topic. The common surgical treatments for OSA include septoplasty, uvulopalatoplasty (UPPP), advancement genioplasty, mandibular osteotomy, maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), and hyoid suspension(2). To see the current variance in popularity by search volume and geographic location, the following terms were analyzed through GT: “septoplasty”, “uvulopalatoplasty”, “genioplasty”, “mandibular osteotomy”, “maxillomandibular advancement”, “hyoid suspension”. RSVs and origins of the term searches were compared against each other in order to determine the relative global interest in these surgical options for OSA. Two-tailed t-tests were used to determine any significant changes in interest for each of the terms from 2020-2021 to 2022; p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: Of the terms analyzed, septoplasty (77.9 RSV; 41 countries) and maxillomandibular advancement (63.4 RSV; 14 countries) have the first and second highest mean RSVs, respectively, worldwide. Mandibular osteotomy (50.9 RSV; 3 countries), genioplasty (45.6 RSV; 19 countries), and uvulopalatoplasty (35.9 RSV; 7 countries) follow from highest to lowest mean RSV. Hyoid suspension (25.2 RSV; 1 country) is the least searched for. Changes in interest (mean RSV) for search terms from 2020-2021 to current were analyzed. “Septoplasty” went from 42.1 to 77.9, and showed a statistically significant increase (P < 0.00001). “Genioplasty” went from 33.2 to 45.6 and showed significant increase (P < 0.00001). “Maxillomandibular advancement” went from 55.7 to 63.4 and showed significant increase (P = 0.023997). “Uvulopalatoplasty” went from 46.3 to 35.9 and showed significant decrease (P = 0.000122).
Conclusion: Google Trends shows significant worldwide interest in oral and maxillofacial surgeries used to treat OSA. Further investigation on the root of the public's interest, recent shifts in interest, and spread of search origin should be done to determine the reason for varying interest levels. With further knowledge on the public's position on various surgeries, providers are enabled to better understand patient concerns, and better inform and guide patients towards a suitable treatment option.
References: 1. Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (Patrick Pavwoski, DO, Neurol Clin Pract. 2017 Feb.) 2. Surgical treatment of snoring & obstructive sleep apnoea (Hillel D Ephros, Indian J Med Res. 2010 Feb.)