Public interest in America on cardiac arrest following cardiovascular events of Bronny and Damar: A Google trend study

Abstract

Background

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Increased education and utilization of BLS by first responders have had a significant impact, but certain populations remain high risk, such as African Americans. Raising awareness among at-risk populations may lead to more bystander CPR performed, improving mortality rates. The influence of celebrity deaths and illnesses is an important driver of public awareness. Therefore, the cardiac arrests of both Bronny James and Damar Hamlin may have influenced cardiac arrest awareness.

Methods

Google Trends data was pulled for the following search terms from 8/21/2022–8/14/2023: Cardiac arrest (disease), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (topic), Basic Life Support (topic), Myocardial Infarction (disease), Defibrillation (topic) and Automatic External Defibrillator (topic). The average relative search volume (RSV) for each search term was taken for a three-week period encompassing the week of and two weeks following the cardiac arrests of Damar Hamlin and Lebron James Jr., respectively. We used one-way ANOVA and independent sample t-tests to compare the average values of Damar Hamlin's and LeBron James Jr.'s incidents with their respective 12-month averages.

Results

RSV was significantly higher surrounding Hamlin's cardiac arrest compared to James Jr.'s for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillator. RSV for Basic Life Support was increased in LeBron James Jr.'s time compared to the 12-month average and Damar Hamlin's incident. Compared to the 12-month average, Cardiac arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Defibrillation, and Automatic External Defibrillator during Hamlin's incident. Myocardial infarction RSV was higher during James Jr.'s incident compared to baseline. Over the long term, the search terms showed a significant increase after Damar Hamlin's incident when compared to before.

RSV was significantly higher surrounding Hamlin's cardiac arrest compared to James Jr.'s for “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” (23.56 vs. 22.0, p < 0.00) and “Automatic External Defibrillator” (19.59 vs. 19.4, p < 0.00). RSV for “Basic Life Support” was increased in LeBron James Jr.'s time compared to the 12-month average and Damar Hamlin's incident (80.9 vs. 66.88, p = 0.04). Compared to the 12-month average, “Cardiac arrest,” “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation,” “Defibrillation,” and “Automatic External Defibrillator” during Hamlin's incident showed significant increases. “Myocardial infarction” RSV was higher during James Jr.'s incident compared to baseline (55 vs. 46.6, p = 0.026). Over the long term, the search terms showed a significant increase after Damar Hamlin's incident when compared to before (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Increases in the search terms for Hamlin's cardiac arrest compared to James Jr.'s cardiac arrest were associated with seeing the event live and increasing cardiac arrest awareness. Hamlins Cardiac Arrest also showed a significant increase in search terms over the long term. The increase in searches for “Basic Life Support” during James Jr.'s cardiac arrest indicates increased awareness. Also, the increase in myocardial infarction searches during both incidents could show confusion between cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction.