Hepatology in Colombia: Towards consolidation

Abstract

Seeing how national scientific production in hepatology has grown in recent years is not only a source of satisfaction, but also of hope. The bibliometric analysis presented in this edition clearly shows a sustained increase in publications, particularly between 2021 and 2023, with topics such as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatocellular carcinoma, and portal hypertension leading research interest. This largely reflects the challenges we face in clinical practice and how they have been taken on by various academic and institutional groups. This type of analysis not only quantifies research activity, but also maps its thematic evolution, scope, and limitations. Tools such as Bibliometrix have greatly facilitated this kind of systematic exploration and are now a valuable resource for guiding scientific decisions.