Home›Emergency Medicine› Hypertension-frailty research surges after 2015, led by US, China, Italy in bibliometric analysis
Hypertension-frailty research surges after 2015, led by US, China, Italy in bibliometric analysisMapping the Growth of Research on High Blood Pressure and Frailty
Frontiers in MedicinePublished June 19, 2026Study authors: Shiyang Yu, Wen Yang, Rui Luo, Jinyi Li, Min LiuDOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic
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Key Takeaway
Interpret this bibliometric analysis as evidence of rapidly growing research interest in hypertension and frailty, not as clinical outcome data.
This systematic bibliometric analysis characterizes the intellectual landscape of hypertension and frailty research by analyzing 4,954 publications. The study examines annual trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, collaboration patterns, keyword co-occurrence, institutional collaboration networks, keyword clustering, citation bursts, and citation analyses.
Key findings show that the United States contributed the most publications (1,086; 21.9%), followed by China (542; 10.9%) and Italy (379; 7.7%). Publication volume was sparse from 1973 to 2000, increased after 2000, accelerated after 2010, and rose sharply after 2015, approaching 1,000 in 2023. Citation bursts were identified for frailty index and hypertension management. The top cited studies include the PURE study (global citations) and the SPRINT trial in adults aged ≥75 years (local citations).
The authors note limited bibliometric evidence mapping the knowledge structure, hotspots, and trends in this field. The analysis does not provide clinical effect sizes or patient-level outcomes. Practice relevance indicates that research on hypertension and frailty has grown rapidly, forming a knowledge structure focused on hypertension management, frailty assessment, and functional outcomes.
How this fits prior evidence
This bibliometric analysis extends prior coverage of hypertension and frailty by systematically mapping the research landscape. It complements findings on digital health interventions for chronic diseases and blood pressure control by highlighting the growing research focus on hypertension and frailty, especially after 2015. The prominence of the SPRINT trial in older adults aligns with prior coverage of ambulatory hypertension risks in vulnerable populations.
Researchers looked at nearly 5,000 papers to see how the medical community is studying the link between high blood pressure and frailty. Frailty is a condition where older adults may become weaker or more vulnerable. This review shows that scientists are paying much closer attention to these two issues together.
The number of studies on this topic was very low until about 20 years ago. However, interest spiked after 2010 and grew even faster after 2015. This trend shows that doctors and researchers now recognize how important it is to manage blood pressure while also protecting the physical strength of older patients.
The most research comes from the United States, followed by China and Italy. The data also highlights specific areas of focus, such as better ways to measure frailty and new ways to manage high blood pressure. This growing body of knowledge helps create better plans for long-term care.
What this means for you:
Research on how high blood pressure affects older adults has grown rapidly since 2015.
Common questions
What does this study tell us about treating high blood pressure?
This study did not test new treatments or medications. Instead, it analyzed 4,954 publications to map out the history of research on hypertension and frailty. It shows that more researchers are focusing on these topics together, but you should speak with your doctor for specific medical advice.
How has interest in this topic changed over time?
Research was sparse between 1973 and 2000. However, the number of publications increased after 2000, accelerated after 2010, and rose sharply after 2015. This shows a growing focus on how high blood pressure affects older adults.
Who is most involved in this research?
The study found that the United States produced the most publications (1,086), followed by China (542) and Italy (379). These numbers show where much of the current scientific discussion on hypertension and frailty is taking place.
Hypertension and frailty frequently coexist in older adults and jointly increase the risks of falls, hospitalization, disability, and mortality. However, bibliometric evidence mapping the knowledge structure, hotspots, and trends in this field remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the intellectual landscape of hypertension and frailty research using a multi-database bibliometric approach.
English-language publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Scopus, and PubMed. Article and Review types were restricted in WoSCC and Scopus, while PubMed records were harmonized during preprocessing. Records were merged in R using bibliometrix and deduplicated mainly by DOI and title. Annual trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, and collaboration patterns were analyzed. VOSviewer and bibliometrix were used for keyword co-occurrence and institutional collaboration networks. CiteSpace, based on WoSCC data, was used for keyword clustering, citation bursts, and citation analyses.
In total, 1,853 records were retrieved from WoSCC, 5,210 from Scopus, and 1,615 from PubMed; 4,954 publications were included after cleaning. Publications were sparse from 1973 to 2000, increased after 2000, accelerated after 2010, and rose sharply after 2015, approaching 1,000 in 2023. The United States contributed the most publications (1,086; 21.9%), followed by China (542; 10.9%) and Italy (379; 7.7%). Wang Y was the most productive author, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics was the leading journal, and Harvard University was the most productive institution. Keyword analyses highlighted hypertension management, frailty indices, body composition, grip strength, gait speed, physical activity, and successful aging. CiteSpace identified recent citation bursts for “frailty index” and “hypertension management.” The PURE study ranked first in global citations, while the SPRINT trial in adults aged ≥75 years ranked first in local citations.
Research on hypertension and frailty has grown rapidly, especially after 2015, forming a knowledge structure focused on hypertension management, frailty assessment, and functional outcomes. Future studies should address multimorbid populations, prioritize functional endpoints, and validate combined blood pressure control and function-oriented interventions in real-world settings.
