The 100 top-cited articles in gout: A bibliometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Immunology
• Bibliometrics and Scientometrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Gout research is extensive, but a bibliometric analysis of its most influential publications is lacking.
• This study addresses this gap by identifying and analyzing the top 100 most-cited articles on gout.
• The analysis covers publications from 2000 to 2026.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the 100 most-cited articles in gout research.
• To characterize publication patterns, research trends, and key domains within gout literature.
• To understand the evolution of research priorities in gout management and understanding.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using the term "gout."
• Screening of articles published between January 1, 2000, and April 30, 2026.
• Extraction and analysis of data including citation count, publication year, journal, country, institution, author, study type, and keywords.

Main Results:

• The top 100 articles were published in 34 journals, led by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
• The United States was the leading country, the University of Pennsylvania the top institution, and Choi HK the most prolific author.
• Key research domains identified include epidemiology, pathophysiology, pain management, and comorbidities, with frequent keywords like hyperuricemia, gout, management, and risk.

Conclusions:

• The study summarizes influential gout publications, revealing a shift in research focus.
• Priorities have evolved from serum urate and diagnosis to risk assessment, long-term outcomes, and comprehensive management.
• While hyperuricemia and urate-lowering therapy remain crucial, emerging areas like gut microbiota indicate a move towards precision and multidisciplinary care.