How research hospitals are meeting the world’s health challenges

Topical focus

The prevalence of certain topics among the 50 most-cited papers from research hospitals in the Nature Index each year has changed noticeably from 2019 to 2024. As the COVID-19 pandemic waned, artificial intelligence (AI) has again made up a large proportion of such articles.

Demographic demands

Health-care systems have differing priorities. Those in poorer countries focus on cutting infant deaths, which make up a high proportion of overall mortality; those in richer countries focus more on prolonging healthy lifespan, given most deaths come later in life.

Wealth and health