Global trends and hotspots in research of paronychia: A bibliometric analysis

Background: Paronychia is a prevalent clinical disease profoundly affecting patients’ quality of life. As ongoing evolution in modern living environments, factors contributing to paronychia are becoming increasingly diverse. Therefore, a further understanding about latest trend of paronychia is imperative and pressing. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed based on Web of Science Core Collection and Science Citation Index Expanded. The search parameters encompassed keywords associated with paronychia from 1980 to 2023, and rigorous data cleaning procedures were executed to maintain the analysis’s relevance and dependability, supplemented by a thorough examination of abstracts and titles. Visibility analysis was conducted with Citespace and VOSviewer tools to explore the publication trends, collaborative networks, and impactful studies. Results: A total of 595 articles were included in this study. The annual publication trends exhibited a significant increase since 1990, reached a peak of 41 articles in 2021. Collaborative relationships among countries demonstrated strong connections, with the United States leading in both publication volume, citation records and international cooperation. Keyword analysis indicated that in recent years, a substantial body of research has concentrated on paronychia issues caused by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRI)-class drugs, such as Gefitinib, Erlotinib, and Afatinib, in the context of tumor treatment. Conclusion: In this area, most of the recent hotspots are not focused on the basic research about paronychia due to the basic research about traditional paronychia already reached a relative mature stage. However, with the widespread clinical application of EGFRI anticancer drugs, the incidence of drug-induced paronychia is inevitably on the rise. Therefore, with the expanding diversity in the etiology of paronychia, this area deserves a multiple discipline cooperation with a much wider international communication.