Global digital epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome: 15-year trends and predictive insights

OpenAlex İngilizce

Aims: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a leading cause of neuropathic pain and disability worldwide. In the digital era, online search behavior offers a unique lens to gauge public health awareness. This study investigates global trends in CTS-related search interest over 15 years (2010-2025) and explores its association with demographic and economic indicators.Methods: Using Google Trends data combined with United Nations and World Bank statistics; we analyzed temporal patterns and cross-national correlations. Time-series modeling was performed with ARIMA to forecast future trends. Results: Global CTS search interest remained stable despite population growth, showing negligible correlations with GDP per capita (r=+0.02), population size (r=-0.09), and median age (r=-0.27). ARIMA forecasting for 2024-2028 suggested a gradual decline in search interest, with widening prediction intervals over time.Conclusion: Public interest in CTS does not align strongly with demographic or economic factors, suggesting that awareness is shaped by other determinants such as occupational risk and healthcare accessibility. Digital epidemiology provides valuable insights for public health planning, highlighting the need for targeted awareness strategies rather than reliance on macro-level indicators.