An Analysis of Global Research Trends in ICU-Acquired Weakness

ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a severe complication among critically ill patients and represents a common secondary neuromuscular dysfunction syndrome in the intensive care unit (ICU). It significantly impairs patients' health, functional recovery, and long-term quality of life.

We conducted a comprehensive search of the Web of Science Core Collection database for publications related to ICU-AW, retrieving a total of 1866 records as of September 4, 2025. Using the bibliometric software CiteSpace and VOSviewer, we performed qualitative and quantitative analyses of publication trends, contributing countries, institutions, authors, and keyword co-occurrence patterns.

The annual number of publications on ICU-AW has shown a steady upward trajectory, peaking in 2021 with 186 articles. The United States was the most productive country, contributing 512 publications (27.44%). The University of Toronto emerged as the leading institution with 43 publications. The most prolific author was Lars Larsson (Sweden, 34 publications), and the most frequently occurring keyword was "intensive care unit."

This study is the first to provide a comprehensive bibliometric overview of global research on ICU-AW. Our findings illuminate current research landscapes, highlight key contributors and thematic foci, and offer novel insights to guide future investigations into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and nursing interventions for ICU-AW. Furthermore, the analysis enables evidence-based forecasting of emerging research frontiers and evolving trends in this critical field.