Global bibliometric insights on prenatal exposures and pregnancy outcomes

Prenatal exposure to medications or environmental agents may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes and birth defects. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric overview of the global research landscape on prenatal exposures and associated outcomes.

A systematic literature search was conducted in the Web of Science database on November 11, 2024. Articles and reviews addressing prenatal exposures and pregnancy outcomes, indexed in the Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index-Expanded, or Emerging Sources Citation Index, were screened. Data were analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer, the R-package Bibliometrix, and Microsoft Excel 2021.

A total of 3,361 articles were analyzed. Publications on this topic have steadily increased over the past two decades, peaking in 2022. The United States emerged as the most productive country, followed by China and Canada. Gideon Koren was identified as the most prolific author, while Reproductive Toxicology published the highest number of articles. Among the keywords, "pregnancy" remained the most frequent overall; however, "placenta," "adverse pregnancy outcomes," and "systematic review" peaked in 2022, while "meta-analysis," "outcomes," and "stillbirth" peaked in 2021.

This bibliometric study highlights the global evolution of scientific research on prenatal exposures and pregnancy outcomes. The findings offer valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, enabling a better understanding of the dynamic trends and emerging areas in this field.