OBJECTIVES: This is a demand-based infodemiology study using the Google Trends 
and AdWords tools to illustrate infodemiology's potential use in rheumatology. 
The study investigates three questions in North American countries: (1) What 
terms associated with "rheumatology" and "arthritis" do people search for on 
Google? (2) What is the search volume for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs 
(DMARDs)? and (3) What is the search volume for the term "arthritis" compared 
with for "hepatitis C" and "breast cancer"?
METHODS: We conducted independent searches by country and search term for 
2015-2017. Seventeen DMARDs were searched for 2015 through May 2018, with the 
turmeric remedy included for comparison. Data were exported to Excel for further 
analysis, adjusted by country population, and expressed as searches per 100,000 
inhabitants (SpTh).
RESULTS: There were approximately 550 associated terms for "arthritis" in each 
country, and 5679 SpTh for DMARDs across the three countries. Searches for 
turmeric numbered slightly lower than for all DMARDs together in Canada and the 
USA, but were 70% higher in Mexico. Turmeric was also searched four times more 
than the most-searched biological DMARD in Canada and the USA, and 60 times more 
in Mexico. Arthritis was more commonly searched for in Canada than hepatitis C 
and breast cancer, but hepatitis C was highest in the USA and breast cancer in 
Mexico. Monthly trends did not show expected peaks associated with arthritis 
awareness campaigns.
CONCLUSION: Infodemiology provides preliminary information that could help in 
generating hypotheses, assessing health-care interventions, or even in providing 
patient-centered care.