Global Insights and Research Hotspots in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present investigation is to analyze some essential scientometric features of the dynamic institutionalization and internationalization of contemporary research on obstructive sleep apnea, a common and socially significant respiratory sleep disorder in adults and children worldwide. METHODS: A retrospective problem-oriented, title-word-based search in Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded, MEDLINE, and BIOSIS Citation Index of Web of Science during the period between 1999 and 2023 was performed. The annual dynamics of several essential scientometric indicators are compared. RESULTS: There are a total of 715 publications in 20 languages abstracted in Scopus, 93 in English only-in Science Citation Index Expanded, 39 in English only-in BIOSIS Citation Index, and 34 in 4 languages-in MEDLINE. There are 64, 28, and 14 countries of authors with publications abstracted in Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded, and BIOSIS, respectively. The researchers from the United States and China strongly dominate. The journals with the most papers on the topic, the most cited articles, and the most productive authors and scientific institutions are identified. CONCLUSION: The dynamic science stratification in this field, regarding publication output and international collaboration, deserves special attention from science policymakers and managers in smaller countries. Clinicians, scientists, and collections could successfully use this rich bibliographic data to improve the international visibility and prestige of their national medical science.