Digital mapping of health-related quality of life research in non-communicable diseases: a topic modeling and bibliometric synthesis for policy and practice

Health-related quality of life (HrQoL) has emerged as a key metric in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), reflecting the global shift from acute infectious conditions to chronic illnesses. This shift indicates a broader movement toward patient-centered care. Amidst global digital health transformations, a synthesized understanding of the HrQoL research landscape is essential. To address this gap, the study adopts the PRISMA framework to present a combined bibliometric and machine learning-based Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling analysis of 353 articles, retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science between 2015 and 2024. Using R Studio and VOSviewer, the study maps publication trends, influential authors, sources, and countries, revealing an expanded research interest across related disciplines. Five key research topics were identified: interventions and disease management, psychosocial wellbeing, digital health technologies, epidemiological research, and preventive healthcare. These represent a thematic evolution from clinical protocols to more integrative and digitally responsive models. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, interdisciplinary approaches that bridge clinical care with social determinants of health. Through its computational approach, the study offers actionable insights for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers seeking to enhance the quality of life of individuals living with chronic conditions.