Global Research Trends on the Link Between the Microbiome and COPD: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Background

The pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been studied in relation to the microbiome, providing space for more targeted interventions and new treatments. Numerous papers on the COPD microbiome have been reported in the last 10 years, yet few publications have used bibliometric methods to evaluate this area.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science Core Collection for all original research articles in the field of COPD microbiome from January 2011 to August 2022 and used CiteSpace for visual analysis.

Results

A total of 505 relevant publications were obtained, and the number of global publications in this field is steadily increasing every year, with China and the USA occupying the first two spots in international publications. Imperial College London and the University of Leicester produced the most publications. Brightling C from the UK was the most prolific writer, while Huang Y and Sze M from the USA were first and second among the authors cited. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine had the highest frequency of citations. The top 10 institutions, cited authors and journals are mostly from the UK and the US. In the ranking of citations, the first article was a paper published by Sze M on changes in the lung tissue’s microbiota in COPD patients. The keywords “exacerbation”, “gut microbiota”, “lung microbiome”, “airway microbiome”, “bacterial colonization”, and “inflammation” were identified as cutting-edge research projects for 2011–2022.

Conclusion

Based on the visualization results, in the future, we can use the gut–lung axis as the starting point to explore the immunoinflammatory mechanism of COPD, and study how to predict the effects of different treatments of COPD by identifying the microbiota, and how to achieve the optimal enrichment of beneficial bacteria and the optimal consumption of harmful bacteria to improve COPD.

Keywords:

• COPD
• microbiome
• bibliometric analysis
• CiteSpace
• gut microbiome
• respiratory microbiome
• bacterial colonization

Data Sharing Statement

The article contains the original findings discussed during the research. The research information used to support this study’s results shall be disclosed honestly and without undue reluctance.

Acknowledgments

Sincere appreciation goes out to reviewers for their insights and advice.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The study’s authors affirm that there were no financial or commercial ties that might be viewed as having a possible conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Grant No. ZYYCXTD-D-202003), the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (2021ZYD0103 and 20ZDYF1199).