Google Trends hint at erectile dysfunction being more common during winter

Between 2009 and 2019, Google searches regarding erectile dysfunction (ED) across the United States peak during winter, hinting at a potential seasonal dimension of ED, a recent study has found.

Researchers drew data from Google Trends, looking at internet query data from 2009 and 2019. They looked at the normalized search volume for ED during winter vs summer, and conducted the same analysis for other ED-associated lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Over the 10-year analysis period, researchers documented a mean search frequency for ED of 74.9 during winter, as opposed to only 69.2 in summer. The difference corresponded to a significant 6-percent increase in search frequency during winter (p=0.001).

Similarly, searches for CAD (mean frequency, 62.1 vs 55.3; p<0.001) and T2DM (mean frequency, 74.1 vs 70.0; p=0.011) were significantly more common during winter than in summer.

To minimize the effect of confounders that could also affect seasonal variation in search frequency, the researchers conducted the same analyses for kidney stones as a positive control and prostate cancer as a negative control.

They found that kidney stones had the opposite pattern, with searches being more common during summer (79.4 vs 73.7; p<0.001). Prostate cancer searches did not vary according to season (65.3 vs 65.6; p=0.75).

“This novel finding in ED epidemiology may lead to increased awareness of ED’s seasonal variation and associated lifestyle risk factors, which may aid in identifying and treating those at risk of both ED and cardiovascular diseases,” the researchers said.