From acid suppression to precision management: bibliometric and clinical study analysis of gastroesophageal reflux-related chronic cough

Background Chronic cough affects approximately 10% of the global population, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) accounts for up to 40% of cases in selected clinical series. Despite a growing body of research spanning epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, the global research landscape and emerging trends in GER-related chronic cough remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to systematically map the research landscape and identify evolving trends in this field. Methods Publications addressing chronic cough caused by gastroesophageal reflux were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed, covering the period from January 1, 2000 to August 19, 2026. A parallel dual-database design was adopted: the WoSCC was used for macro-level bibliometric network analyses, whereas PubMed was used to capture clinically indexed study evidence. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix were employed for data visualization and analysis. Results A total of 1,613 publications from the WoSCC and 80 clinical study records from PubMed were included. The WoSCC dataset encompassed 69 countries/regions, 2,984 institutions, and 6,546 authors, with 49,294 total citations and a dataset H-index of 95. Annual publication output showed an overall upward trend, with accelerated growth from 2020 onward. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China were the most productive countries. Research hotspots centered on chronic cough, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngopharyngeal reflux, airway inflammation, and cough hypersensitivity. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remained the most frequently studied pharmacological intervention in the published clinical study literature, whereas potassium-competitive acid blockers and non-pharmacological approaches represented emerging frontiers. Conclusion This study maps the global research landscape of GER-related chronic cough, identifying key trends, influential contributors, and emerging frontiers. The transition from traditional acid-focused research toward non-acid reflux detection, biomarker-based approaches, cough hypersensitivity mechanisms, and novel therapeutic targets delineates the future direction of the field.