Advancing understanding of autoimmune disease-related interstitial lung disease (AD-ILD): A global perspective on research focus and future directions.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD), also known as autoimmune disease-associated ILD (AD-ILD), is a common complication of autoimmune diseases. Its rapid progression and worsening pulmonary fibrosis significantly increase the risk of mortality, leading to poor prognosis. Despite the considerable body of research in this field, there is a lack of bibliometric studies to address global research trends, key hotspots, and future directions.

Methods: This study employed bibliometric methods to analyze 6456 publications related to this field from 1980 to 2024, using data extracted from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Visualization was conducted using tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix R package.

Results: The analysis encompassed contributions from 102 countries, 5957 institutions, and 25,003 researchers, published across 951 journals. Research output has surged since 2018, highlighting increased scholarly attention to the field. The United States produced the largest number of publications, with Mayo Clinic identified as the most prolific institution. The analysis revealed that Rheumatology and Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases had the highest publication volume and co-citation counts in the field, respectively. Dinesh Khanna was identified as the most prolific author, while V.D. Steen emerged as the most highly co-cited author. Keyword analysis highlighted that current AD-ILD research primarily focuses on optimizing diagnostic tools for specific autoimmune diseases, analyzing pathological types and risk factors, and exploring biomarkers and precision therapies. Thematic mapping underscored the need for future research to focus on AD-ILD mechanisms, specific antibodies, diagnostic markers, personalized treatments, and prognostic factors.

Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of AD-ILD-related publications, uncovering global research trends and current hotspots while offering robust guidance for future research directions.