Bibliometric analysis of the correlation between H. pylori and inflammatory bowel disease

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is prevalent and associated with the development of various gastric diseases. On the other hand, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immune-related intestinal disorder influenced by factors like gut microbiota imbalance, genetic predisposition, and environmental influences. Despite extensive research on the H. pylori–IBD relationship, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this area is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to use bibliometric methods to explore research trends, hotspots, and frontiers in H. pylori and IBD-related research, offering valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.

Methods

We retrieved relevant literature on H. pylori and IBD from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases covering 2007 to 2024. We perform a comprehensive analysis within the WoSCC literature. We compare these findings with relevant results from Scopus.

Results

Research on H. pylori and IBD has remained prominent in recent years. The United States leads in output, with strong contributions from authors, institutions, and journals. China, despite being a developing country, shows rapid article growth, signaling growing research potential. Key topics include Crohn's disease, gut microbiota, H. pylori infection, and ulcerative colitis. Newer interests include health, cancer prevention, and chronic gastritis.

Conclusion

Over the past, research on H. pylori and IBD has primarily centered around epidemiology and clinical studies. The question of whether H. pylori definitively offers protective effects against IBD remains unresolved. Therefore, further investigation could explore the underlying mechanisms of their relationship or initiate long-term prospective cohort studies to gather more compelling evidence.