Knowledge mapping of frailty and surgery: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Frailty is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in surgical patients.
• Understanding the research landscape of perioperative frailty is crucial for advancing clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on frailty and surgery.
• To identify key trends, influential publications, and research hotspots in perioperative frailty.
• To provide visualized maps of the research structure for better comprehension.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of publication volume, countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords from 1978 to 2024.
• Utilized the Web of Science Core Collection database.
• Performed visual bibliometric analyses including collaboration networks, citation analysis, and keyword clustering.

Main Results:

• Over 4,119 papers published by 21,879 authors from 95 countries.
• The United States leads in publications; Italy shows high international collaboration.
• Key research areas include risk assessment, postoperative complications, elderly frailty, and sarcopenia.

Conclusions:

• Identified current research hotspots and trends in perioperative frailty.
• Provides a clear knowledge structure of the field for researchers.
• Aims to guide future research directions in perioperative frailty assessment and management.