Exploring Research Hotspots and Emerging Trends in Mitochondria and Chronic Pain: A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis From 2004 to 2024.

Background: Mitochondria play a crucial role in various cellular processes, and their dysfunction has been increasingly recognized as a significant factor in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Despite growing interest in this area, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the research trends, key themes, and influential contributions in the study of mitochondria and pain has not been conducted. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a detailed overview of the research landscape from 2004 to 2024.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 2004, and June 24, 2024. A total of 1995 articles were identified and included in the analysis. Bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and RStudio, were employed to analyze and visualize data related to cocitation networks, keyword co-occurrence, and clustering patterns. The analysis focused on identifying research trends, key authors, influential journals, and emerging themes within the field.

Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in research activity on mitochondria and pain, particularly after 2011, with the number of publications rising from 74 in 2015 to 171 in 2020, representing a 131% growth during this period. Key themes identified include mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, autophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis. The United States, China, Germany, and the United Kingdom emerged as leading contributors to the field, with prominent institutions such as Harvard University and the University of California playing central roles in collaborative networks. Influential authors and foundational studies were identified through cocitation analysis, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the research.

Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving research landscape in mitochondria and pain, highlighting key trends, influential contributions, and emerging research directions. The findings underscore the growing recognition of mitochondrial dysfunction as a critical factor in pain mechanisms and suggest that future research should focus on translating basic findings into clinical practice while expanding global collaborations.