Tracing the Evolution: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Drug Interaction Clinical Studies

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Clinical Research
• Bibliometrics and Scientometrics
• Drug Safety and Efficacy

Background:

• Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) pose significant challenges in clinical practice.
• Understanding the research landscape of DDIs is crucial for advancing pharmacotherapy.
• Previous bibliometric analyses have not comprehensively mapped the evolution of DDIs in clinical research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of DDIs in clinical research.
• To identify evolutionary trends, core themes, and research hotspots in the field.
• To provide insights for future research directions and global harmonization of methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric search of the Web of Science Core Collection for DDIs in clinical settings.
• Utilized analytical tools including DIKW, VOSviewer, and Citespace for pattern analysis.
• Included 2622 relevant articles from an initial pool of 3421 identified publications.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in DDIs publications was observed, peaking in 2020.
• Five main thematic clusters identified: Safety/Adverse Reactions, Metabolism/Efficacy, Disease/Treatment, Methods/Practices, and Special Populations/Combined Medication.
• Key insights include the growing importance of drug metabolism, focus on cardiovascular/antiviral drugs, and advancements in personalized medicine.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the escalating significance of drug metabolism and the trend towards personalized medicine in DDIs research.
• There is a need for strategic focus on vulnerable populations and innovative research methodologies.
• Calls for global harmonization of research methods, integration of personalized medicine, and advanced computational analytics in DDIs clinical investigations.