Knowledge domains and emerging trends in aldosterone and kidney disease prognosis: a bibliometric analysis

Aldosterone plays a key role in kidney disease, but previous bibliometric studies have focused only broadly on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a whole. A focused bibliometric analysis specifically on aldosterone and kidney disease prognosis has been lacking. This study addresses that gap by mapping global research trends, identifying leading contributors, and pinpointing current priorities in this field.

We searched the Web of Science Core Collection for studies published between January 1, 1963, and May 6, 2025. Using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix," we analyzed collaboration networks, author and institutional productivity, journal impact, keyword co-occurrence, and research trends.

A total of 1338 articles from 5628 institutions in 77 countries were included. The United States led in publication output and collaboration, with China and Japan following. Harvard University, INSERM, and Harvard Medical Affiliates were the most productive institutions. The most influential authors were Pitt Bertram, Zannad Faiez, and Rossignol Patrick. Top journals included Kidney International and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Common keywords were "mortality," "risk," "blood pressure," "aldosterone," and "chronic kidney disease." Recent research has focused on "management," "serum potassium," "mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists," and "meta-analysis," reflecting shifts toward optimizing therapy and improving safety.

This targeted bibliometric analysis fills a specific gap by clarifying how aldosterone research shapes our understanding of kidney disease prognosis. The findings highlight the need for more integrated, multidisciplinary approaches and support continued clinical and translational research to refine therapies and improve patient outcomes.