581: Global Research Trends of High-Impact Chronic Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Epidemiology

Background and Aims: Population having high-impact chronic pain (HICP) accompanied by major life or work-related activity limitation. Recently, studies on HICP have received increasing attention. However, changes in scientific knowledge and the latest research trends of HICP have not been explored adequately.

Methods: Publications were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. We used VOSviewer to conduct a bibliometric analysis, aiming to map collaborative structures and thematic evolution. This involved visualizing the co-occurrence networks of countries, institutions, authors, and keywords.

Results: A total 284 articles published between 1992 and 2026. The United States led in publication volume. Key institutions included University of Florida, Duke University and Yale University. Prominent authors included Fillingim RB, Cruz-almeida Y and Huo ZG. Keyword analysis revealed strong focus on “prevalence”, “epidemiology”, “quality of life”, “depression”, “low-back pain”, “management”, “disability”, “risk factors”, “validity”, “reliability”, “central sensitization”, “fibromyalgia” and “musculoskeletal pain”. Thematic mapping focused on four topics, including epidemiology and burden; psychosocial impact of pain, linking it to depression, disability, and reduced quality of life; methodological validation of assessment tools and the exploration of pain mechanisms.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis provided the global research trends in HICP. The United States and the University of Florida are at the forefront of this field. Our findings suggested that HICP research focus on the biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Future research should focus on management of HICP, including improving treatment efficacy and enhancing patient quality of life, as significant gaps remain in optimizing long-term care for this condition.

References: No

Presenting Author: Qiuyu Yang, Liang Yao
Submitting Author: Qiuyu Yang

Senior Author: Liang Yao, Long Ge

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Long Ge - Lanzhou University
• Liang Yao - Nanyang Technological University