A bibliometric mapping study of the literature on the quality of life of people living with HIV.

Background: In recent years, owing to the implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a manageable chronic disease. Consequently, the quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV (PLWH) has warranted increasing attention. Although a substantial number of articles on QOL among PLWH have been published, statistical analysis of the data presented in these publications remains lacking. This study aimed to identify and analyze emerging trends and collaborative networks in research on the QOL of PLWH.

Methods: Research publications on the QOL of PLWH from 1992 to 2025 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. After screening and deduplication, the following bibliometric data were extracted from each article: title, abstract, keywords, authors, affiliations, geographic origin (countries/regions), publication year, journal name, and references. Various scientometric mapping tools-including Microsoft Office Spreadsheet, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix R-package-were used to analyze basic bibliometric parameters, leading contributors, high-impact keywords, and research trends.

Results: A total of 6,163 publications met the inclusion criteria. Over the past 33 years, the annual number of publications has shown an overall upward trend. The United States had the highest number of publications (n = 2,432) and the highest total link strength (TLS = 1,798) in collaborative research. The University of California, San Francisco, served as the core institution, and PLOS ONE was the most prolific journal. Wu AW was identified as a core member of the industry collaboration network. By combining keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analyses, this study found that clinical concerns (e.g., antiretroviral therapy adherence, depression, anxiety) remained prominent, while stigma, healthcare access, and age-related impairments emerged as the latest hotspots with strong burst strength.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis highlights the growing importance of QOL research in the field of PLWH, which can inform clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to prioritize areas for future investigation in order to develop comprehensive, patient-centered strategies. The findings advocate for appropriate resources for interventions that benefit HIV populations and a better understanding of the psychosocial needs of PLWH to improve their QOL.