Sleep Disorders and Perioperative Stroke: A Global Bibliometric Analysis from 1999 to 2024

Perioperative stroke is a severe postoperative complication increasingly linked to sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and circadian disruption. This study aimed to map the global research landscape and identify major trends, collaborations, and evolving themes connecting sleep disorders with perioperative stroke.

Publications from 1999 to 2024 were retrieved from three major databases: WOSCC, Scopus, and PubMed, using combined sleep- and stroke-related search terms. After screening, 1727 eligible articles and reviews were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Bibliometrix, and Scimago Graphica to assess publication growth, co-authorship, institutional productivity, and keyword evolution.

A total of 1727 documents from 1,464 journals were authored by 9,643 researchers across 117 countries. The annual growth rate was 7.91%, with an average of 69.53 citations per document. The United States, China, Canada, and the United Kingdom were the leading contributors, while Harvard Medical School ranked first institutionally (72 papers). Keyword and co-citation analyses revealed a thematic evolution, from early circadian and REM-sleep studies to more recent translational research focusing on OSA, cardiovascular risk, and perioperative cerebrovascular events.

Research on sleep disorders and perioperative stroke has evolved into a mature, collaborative, and multidisciplinary field. Integrating mechanisms such as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and circadian misalignment may enhance perioperative stroke prevention and personalized risk assessment.