Global trends in aspiration pneumonia research since 1980: A bibliometric analysis

Aspiration pneumonia presents a significant healthcare challenge, particularly in aging societies. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this field has not been previously conducted. This study aimed to systematically analyze the publication patterns, research collaborations, and thematic trends in aspiration pneumonia research between 1980 and 2024.

We conducted a bibliometric analysis using data from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The analysis included publication trends, citation patterns, author productivity, and research categories. Network analyses were performed using VOSviewer to visualize international collaborations, author networks, and keyword co-occurrence patterns.

Our analysis of 4668 publications revealed a substantial growth in research output, from 10 publications in 1980 to 371 in 2023. The United States and Japan emerged as the 2 major centers of research output. Analysis of the research categories showed a shift from surgical perspectives during the earlier periods toward more comprehensive medical management approaches in recent years, with General Internal Medicine becoming the leading category between 2010 and 2024. The author collaboration network revealed geographically distinct research clusters with limited cross-regional interactions. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified 4 major research domains: clinical and epidemiological aspects (41 items), treatment-related approaches (29 items), neurological and swallowing disorders (29 items), and malnutrition.

Our findings demonstrate the evolution of aspiration pneumonia research toward an increasingly multifaceted field that integrates clinical care, rehabilitation, and preventive strategies. The distinct regional patterns in research output suggest opportunities for enhanced international collaboration to advance the current understanding of this condition.