Global online search interest in lymphedema: A Google Trends analysis from surgical and rehabilitation perspectives

Background Lymphedema is a chronic condition that commonly develops after cancer treatment and requires long-term multidisciplinary management. As increasing numbers of patients seek health information online, Google Trends provides an opportunity to evaluate online search interest and information-seeking behavior. This study aimed to investigate global online search interest in lymphedema from both surgical and rehabilitation perspectives. Methods This infodemiological observational study analyzed worldwide Google Trends data for the query “lymphedema” from January 2004 to December 2025, with partial January 2026 included in sensitivity analysis. Temporal trends in Relative Search Volume (RSV) were assessed using the modified Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope, and calendar-month regression with Newey–West covariance. Geographic distribution, related search queries, and related topics were analyzed descriptively. Results Global search interest in lymphedema demonstrated a significant long-term increasing trend (modified Mann–Kendall Z = 4.39, p < 0.001), with a Sen’s slope of 0.163 RSV units/month. The seasonally adjusted linear slope was 0.167 RSV units/month (95% CI 0.121–0.212). The highest normalized RSV was observed in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Ireland. “Lymphedema treatment” was the highest-ranked related query. Related topics included disease-specific and anatomical concepts. Conclusions Relative Google search interest in lymphedema increased over the study period. The findings may help guide online education but do not establish disease burden, patient demand, or public awareness.