Osteosarcopenia research, 2001-2025: worldwide bibliometric trends and consequences for clinical and public health practice

Aims: Osteosarcopenia, the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is increasingly recognized as a key geriatric syndrome associated with frailty, falls, fractures, disability, and mortality. We aimed to map worldwide publication trends and thematic evolution in osteosarcopenia research.Methods: We performed a bibliometric analysis of Web of Science Core Collection publications from 2001 to October 2025, restricted to English-language open-access articles with a geriatric and musculoskeletal focus. Analyses included annual scientific production, source and country productivity, keyword co occurrence, thematic mapping, thematic evolution, and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Results: A total of 1,514 articles were identified, with a marked growth in publications after 2017. The most productive countries were China, the United States, and Japan. Core themes centered on sarcopenia, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, and muscle, while thematic analyses highlighted both clinical epidemiological domains and emerging mechanistic topics. MCA suggested a dual-axis conceptual structure linking clinical foundations with biological mechanisms. Conclusion: Osteosarcopenia research has expanded rapidly since 2017 and evolved into a multidisciplinary domain. These findings support the need to integrate osteosarcopenia into geriatric risk stratification and preventive strategies.