The 100 top-cited articles in gout: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have investigated gout; however, a focused bibliometric evaluation of the most influential publications remains limited. This study identified and analyzed the top 100 most-cited articles on gout.

METHODS

The Web of Science Core Collection Science Citation Index Expanded database was searched using the term "gout." Articles published from January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2026 were screened. The top 100 most-cited articles were selected, and data on citation rank, publication year, journal, impact factor, country, institution, author, study type, research topic, and keywords were extracted. Bibliometric analyses were performed to characterize publication patterns and research trends.

RESULTS

The most-cited article was published in 2006 and received 4359 citations. The top 100 articles were published in 34 journals, with Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases contributing the largest proportion. The United States was the leading contributing country. The University of Pennsylvania was the most productive institution, and Choi HK was the most prolific author. Observational studies were the most common study design. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified 4 major research domains: epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, pain management, and comorbidities. Frequently occurring keywords included hyperuricemia, gout, management, risk, arthritis, uric acid, prevalence, coronary heart disease, quality of life, and febuxostat.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis summarizes the most influential publications in gout research from 2000 to 2026. Major research priorities have shifted from serum urate, diagnosis, and pharmacological treatment toward risk assessment, long-term outcomes, disease burden, and comprehensive management. Hyperuricemia and urate-lowering therapy remain central themes, while emerging topics such as gut microbiota suggest increasing interest in multidisciplinary and precision approaches to gout care.