Digit Health. 2026 Jan 30;12:20552076261416710. doi: 10.1177/20552076261416710. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Digital health interventions are transforming hypertension management, yet the evolution and focus of this research domain remain underexplored. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research trends and hotspots in digital health for hypertension management.

METHODS: Relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric and visualization analyses were conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R-Bibliometrix, covering the period from 1992 to 2025.

RESULTS: A total of 1368 English-language articles, authored by 8918 researchers from 5268 institutions in over 100 countries/regions, were identified. These articles appeared in 435 journals, with publication output showing rapid growth since 2011 and peaking in 2022. The United States led in both productivity and international collaboration, with Duke University, the University of California System, and Harvard University as the top institutions. Bosworth HB emerged as the most prolific and influential author, while JMIR mHealth and uHealth and the Journal of Medical Internet Research were the leading journals. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed five major research clusters: (1) Digital interventions and patient management; (2) Population health and lifestyle factors; (3) Clinical practice, guidelines, and measurement; (4) Disease burden, outcomes, and epidemiology; and (5) Health equity, access, and technology utilization. Evidence suggests that digital health interventions improved patient self-management, medication adherence, and blood pressure control, highlighting their potential for better clinical outcomes. Recent burst keywords such as “burden,” “telehealth,” “meta-analysis,” and “United States” indicate shifting research priorities toward implementation, health equity, and real-world impact.

CONCLUSION: This study identified rapid growth and diversification in digital health research for hypertension, with the United States, leading academic institutions, and journals such as JMIR mHealth and uHealth at the forefront. Five major research clusters were revealed, spanning digital interventions, clinical practices, lifestyle factors, disease burden, and health equity. Recent trends show increased focus on telehealth, implementation challenges, and equity of access. Future research should further integrate digital health solutions into routine hypertension care, address disparities, and systematically evaluate their real-world impact.

PMID:41631267 | PMC:PMC12861385 | DOI:10.1177/20552076261416710