Mapping the Scientific Landscape of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Bibliometrics
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent respiratory sleep disorder affecting adults and children globally.
• Understanding the dynamics of OSA research is crucial for advancing treatment strategies.
• Scientometric analysis provides insights into research trends and collaborations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the scientometric features of contemporary research on obstructive sleep apnea treatment.
• To assess the institutionalization and internationalization of sleep apnea research.
• To identify key trends in publication output and global collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective search of major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, BIOSIS) from 2019-2023.
• Comparative assessment of annual quantitative scientometric indicators.
• Identification of publication dynamics, international collaboration, and key contributors.

Main Results:

• A significant volume of research exists, with 1620 publications in Web of Science Core Collection alone.
• Research output is concentrated, with researchers from the USA and China dominating.
• International collaboration involves authors from 89 countries, with publications in 15 languages.

Conclusions:

• The field exhibits dynamic science stratification in publication output and international collaboration.
• Policymakers and research managers in smaller countries should pay special attention to these trends.
• Strategic planning is needed to foster research and collaboration in less represented nations.