Research frontiers and emerging trends in sex and gender differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a...

Numerous studies have examined sex and gender differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), highlighting their roles in disease susceptibility, hormonal regulation, and inflammation. However, research often conflates sex and gender, and gaps remain in tailored therapies and genetic mechanisms. This study, therefore, employs bibliometric analysis to map the evolution and landscape of this research field.

The authors systematically retrieved literature from the Web of Science Core Collection database, focusing on publications addressing gender differences in COPD between January 1, 2015, and March 4, 2025. The search strategy used the following Boolean query: [TS= ("COPD" OR "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease") AND ("gender" OR "male" OR "female") NOT ("animal model" OR "cell culture")], adhering to Web of Science Core Collection search syntax rules that ignore case sensitivity but require logical operator capitalisation. Subsequently, bibliometric analyses were performed using CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20.

The search identified 493 publications, and the annual output showed a steady rise. De Miguel-Díez J was the most productive author, and CIBER was the leading institution. High-frequency keywords included COPD, respiratory system, gender differences, and prevalence. Recent focus shifted to gender differences and COPD comorbidities.

Investigations into sex and gender-specific COPD manifestations have grown in recent years, engaging a growing scientific community. This work systematically synthesises pivotal research trajectories and novel mechanistic insights into gender-differentiated COPD pathology. Future therapeutic strategies for COPD may target the role of sex hormones in pulmonary pathophysiology. The comprehensive summary provides an informative theoretical foundation for researchers and clinical providers and is key to future research tools in this field.