Publication trends of dexmedetomidine and perioperative cognitive dysfunction: A bibliometric analysis from 1995 to 2024
Clinical Snapshot
PICO Framework
| P — Population | Research publications on dexmedetomidine and perioperative cognitive dysfunction |
| I — Intervention | Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R software |
| C — Comparator | Not applicable (descriptive bibliometric study) |
| O — Outcomes | Publication trends, research hotspots, author networks, institutional collaborations, and keyword evolution |
Bottom Line
This bibliometric analysis maps the research landscape of dexmedetomidine and perioperative cognitive dysfunction, identifying 585 publications with strong growth (16.21% annually) peaking in 2021. China dominates publication output while Harvard University leads institutional contributions. Emerging research themes include neuroinflammation, risk assessment, and efficacy evaluation. However, the study's limitation to Web of Science database and lack of quality assessment limits its comprehensiveness. While valuable for understanding research trends and identifying collaboration opportunities, this analysis does not provide clinical evidence to guide dexmedetomidine use in preventing POCD. Clinicians should interpret these trends alongside systematic reviews and clinical trials for evidence-based practice decisions. The identification of neuroinflammation as an emerging theme suggests future mechanistic research directions that may inform clinical applications.
Key Findings
P Value: Not applicable for bibliometric analysis
Effect Size: Peak publication year 2021 with 91 articles
Primary Outcome: 585 articles identified with 16.21% annual growth rate
Nnt Or Sensitivity: China leads with 379 articles (64.8% of total publications)
Confidence Interval: Not applicable for bibliometric analysis
Clinical Application
High feasibility for understanding research landscape and identifying collaboration opportunities Limited Australian representation noted; relevant for understanding global research priorities and potential collaboration with leading institutions like Harvard University Anaesthesiologists and perioperative physicians interested in dexmedetomidine research trends
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has shown potential in mitigating perioperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). This study aimed to systematically evaluate the research hotspots and development trends in Dex and POCD using bibliometric analysis. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify publications related to Dex and POCD from 1995 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer (V 1.6.20), CiteSpace (V 6.3.R1), and R V4.3.3. RESULTS: A total of 585 articles on Dex and POCD between 1995 and 2024 were analyzed. These articles involved 1688 authors from 1857 institutions across 140 countries or regions, published in 240 journals, and citing 12,881 sources. The annual growth rate of publications in this field was 16.21%, with a peak of 91 articles in 2021. China led in the number of articles (n = 379), multiple country publications (MCP = 29), and total citations = 4989). The USA ranked second with 74 articles, 18 MCPs, and 2608 citations, followed by South Korea with 29 articles and 533 citations. Harvard University published the most articles (n = 51). Wang Dong-Xin was the most influential author, with an h-index of 7. Anesthesiology led the high-impact journals with an H-index of 11. The keyword analysis identified "neuroinflammation," "risk," "injury," and "efficacy" as the latest research themes. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the research trends regarding Dex and POCD. Future research should continue to explore the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of Dex in preventing POCD.
References
- 1.Zhou, D., Yang, L., Miao, S., & Zhang, X. (2026). Publication trends of dexmedetomidine and perioperative cognitive dysfunction: A bibliometric analysis from 1995 to 2024. Medicine, Article 0000000000048326. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000048326
Related Research
Scandinavian journal of pain
Multimodal deep learning fusion for automatic pain detection in cancer patients
26 July 2026
BMJ open
Shared decision making in pain care: a systematic review study protocol of decision aids
11 July 2026
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
Engineering biomarker representations of vital signs data enhances deep learning mortality prediction
3 July 2026
This content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals only and does not constitute clinical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on individual patient assessment, current guidelines, and appropriate specialist consultation. Editorial Standards · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service