Bibliometric analysis of ICU-AW literature reveals expanding global research focus on early rehabilitation and nutritionHow is research on ICU weakness changing, and what does this mean for patient care?

Frontiers in Medicine Published April 9, 2026 DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain

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Key Takeaway

Note the expanding global research focus on early rehabilitation and nutrition for ICU-AW.

This study utilized a bibliometric analysis to evaluate existing literature on intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). The investigation included 1,449 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection and 648 publications from PubMed, involving 6,908 authors from 72 countries across 365 journals. The primary outcome assessed the temporal and spatial distribution, interconnections, and emerging trends within this research field.

The analysis identified 11 thematic clusters and 67 burst keywords through cluster analysis, burst keyword detection, and timeline mapping. These clusters encompassed diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of ICU-AW. The data indicates a shift in research focus toward early identification, early functional rehabilitation, and nutritional support over the past two decades, with increasing contributions from East Asia and nutrition- and neuromuscular-focused journals.

Safety and adverse events were not reported as this was a bibliometric analysis of publication trends rather than a clinical trial. The study limitations include the reliance on bibliometric data rather than clinical outcomes, and the absence of reported effect sizes or p-values. However, external validation of research topics and trends in the PubMed database yielded results consistent with the preliminary analysis.

The practice relevance of these findings lies in mapping the evolution of research themes to identify emerging directions and generate hypotheses for future studies. Clinicians should note that these results describe the trajectory of scientific inquiry rather than direct patient outcomes or treatment efficacy.

Weakness that develops after a stay in the intensive care unit is a serious problem for many patients. To understand how we are tackling this issue, researchers looked at thousands of published papers from 72 countries. They examined who is writing these studies, where they are published, and what topics are getting attention.

The analysis identified 11 major themes in the research, ranging from diagnosis to treatment. A clear shift is happening: more attention is now on spotting weakness early, starting rehabilitation quickly, and using nutritional support. The number of authors and papers has grown steadily, showing that more people are joining the effort to solve this problem.

This work maps the evolution of the field and helps spot new directions for future studies. While it does not test specific drugs or procedures, it tells us where the scientific community is focusing its energy. These findings help researchers generate new ideas for how to better help patients recover their strength.

What this means for you:

Research on ICU weakness is growing fast, focusing on early recovery and nutrition.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

PurposeThis review aimed to summarize and map the existing literature to clarify the temporal and spatial distribution, interconnections, and emerging trends in Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) research.Patients and methodsBibliographic records were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed database. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to visualize the publication landscape, analyze citation patterns and collaborative networks, and conduct cluster analysis, burst keyword detection, and timeline mapping.ResultsA total of 1,449 publications from WoSCC and 648 publications from PubMed were included in analysis, representing contributions from 72 countries, 6,908 authors, and 365 journals. In recent years, authors from Asian countries and journals focusing on clinical nutrition have shown rapid growth. We identified 11 thematic clusters and 67 burst keywords from WoSCC publications, indicating a shift in research focus toward early identification, early functional rehabilitation, and nutritional support. External validation of the research topics and trends in PubMed database yielded results consistent with the preliminary analysis.ConclusionOver the past two decades, research on ICU-AW has expanded steadily, with increasing contributions from East Asia and nutrition- and neuromuscular-focused journals, while Europe, North America, and critical care publications continue to dominate. A total of 11 major research clusters were identified, encompassing the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of ICU-AW. These findings map the evolution of research themes and may help identify emerging directions and generate hypotheses for future studies.

Bibliometric analysis of ICU-AW literature reveals expanding global research focus on early rehabilitation and nutritionHow is research on ICU weakness changing, and what does this mean for patient care?

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Bibliometric analysis of ICU-AW literature reveals expanding global research focus on early rehabilitation and nutritionHow is research on ICU weakness changing, and what does this mean for patient care?

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Study Details

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Clinical research that matters. Delivered to your inbox.

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