Beta-blocker therapy has garnered attention for sepsis and septic shock because of its potential benefits in modulating hemodynamics through heart rate control and reducing the in-hospital mortality rate. This study examined the evolving trends and focal points of this domain. This study retrieved 418 articles and reviews related to beta-blocker therapy in sepsis and septic shock published from the Web of Science Core Collection Database from January 1, 1990, to November 30, 2023. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used for visual bibliometric analysis, including co-citation analysis of references, co-occurrence analysis of keywords, and collaborative network analysis involving countries/regions, institutions, and authors. Over time, a discernible upward trend has been observed in the annual publication of articles related to β-blockers in sepsis, particularly from 2013 to 2023. Keyword publication burst detection revealed that initial studies primarily focused on the role of excessive catecholamine release as a mechanism and potential therapeutic target in sepsis and septic shock. β-blockers have emerged as a pivotal area of investigation and are associated with improved hemodynamics and decreased in-hospital mortality. The United States is the most prolific contributor, wielding substantial influence, whereas China exhibits a recent surge in publications, ranking second in terms of publication strength. University College London published the most articles, with the University of Oxford demonstrating the highest centrality. Collaborative endeavors are frequently observed among countries and institutions. Beta-blocker therapy may hold promise in reducing in-hospital mortality among patients with sepsis and septic shock, thus becoming a central focus of research.
Luo et al. (Fri,) studied this question.