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Purpose: The Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) proposed a ventral hernia grading guideline, primarily supported by expert opinion, recommending biologic mesh placement in high-risk patients. We investigated the relationship between this industry-sponsored guideline and discourse around ventral hernia repair (VHR).Medline platform from Web of Science’s database identified publications “pre-VHWG”(1999-01-01 to 2009-12-31), and “post-VHWG”(2010-01-01 to 2020-12-31) describing VHR and complications or recurrence of VHR with the following comorbidities: COPD, smoking, diabetes, immunosuppression, or obesity. Poisson regression analyzed keyword frequency over time using logarithmically transformed data.Of 1291 VHR publications identified pre-VHWG and 3041 publications identified post-VHWG, 172 (13.3%) and 642 (21.1%) publications respectively included prespecified keywords. The keyword groups “biologic”(IRR 3.39,95%CI1.34-11.4,p = 0.022) and “comorbid”(IRR 1.95, 95%CI1.09-3.74,p = 0.033) significantly increased with frequency after publication of the VHWG.The VHWG publication likely contributed to a focus on comorbidities and biologic mesh in the ensuing literature within the field of VHR.Methods: The Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) proposed a ventral hernia grading guideline, primarily supported by expert opinion, recommending biologic mesh placement in high-risk patients. We investigated the relationship between this industry-sponsored guideline and discourse around ventral hernia repair (VHR).Medline platform from Web of Science’s database identified publications “pre-VHWG”(1999-01-01 to 2009-12-31), and “post-VHWG”(2010-01-01 to 2020-12-31) describing VHR and complications or recurrence of VHR with the following comorbidities: COPD, smoking, diabetes, immunosuppression, or obesity. Poisson regression analyzed keyword frequency over time using logarithmically transformed data.Of 1291 VHR publications identified pre-VHWG and 3041 publications identified post-VHWG, 172 (13.3%) and 642 (21.1%) publications respectively included prespecified keywords. The keyword groups “biologic”(IRR 3.39,95%CI1.34-11.4,p = 0.022) and “comorbid”(IRR 1.95, 95%CI1.09-3.74,p = 0.033) significantly increased with frequency after publication of the VHWG.The VHWG publication likely contributed to a focus on comorbidities and biologic mesh in the ensuing literature within the field of VHR.Results: The Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) proposed a ventral hernia grading guideline, primarily supported by expert opinion, recommending biologic mesh placement in high-risk patients. We investigated the relationship between this industry-sponsored guideline and discourse around ventral hernia repair (VHR).Medline platform from Web of Science’s database identified publications “pre-VHWG”(1999-01-01 to 2009-12-31), and “post-VHWG”(2010-01-01 to 2020-12-31) describing VHR and complications or recurrence of VHR with the following comorbidities: COPD, smoking, diabetes, immunosuppression, or obesity. Poisson regression analyzed keyword frequency over time using logarithmically transformed data.Of 1291 VHR publications identified pre-VHWG and 3041 publications identified post-VHWG, 172 (13.3%) and 642 (21.1%) publications respectively included prespecified keywords. The keyword groups “biologic”(IRR 3.39,95%CI1.34-11.4,p = 0.022) and “comorbid”(IRR 1.95, 95%CI1.09-3.74,p = 0.033) significantly increased with frequency after publication of the VHWG.The VHWG publication likely contributed to a focus on comorbidities and biologic mesh in the ensuing literature within the field of VHR.Conclusion: The Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) proposed a ventral hernia grading guideline, primarily supported by expert opinion, recommending biologic mesh placement in high-risk patients. We investigated the relationship between this industry-sponsored guideline and discourse around ventral hernia repair (VHR).Medline platform from Web of Science’s database identified publications “pre-VHWG”(1999-01-01 to 2009-12-31), and “post-VHWG”(2010-01-01 to 2020-12-31) describing VHR and complications or recurrence of VHR with the following comorbidities: COPD, smoking, diabetes, immunosuppression, or obesity. Poisson regression analyzed keyword frequency over time using logarithmically transformed data.Of 1291 VHR publications identified pre-VHWG and 3041 publications identified post-VHWG, 172 (13.3%) and 642 (21.1%) publications respectively included prespecified keywords. The keyword groups “biologic”(IRR 3.39,95%CI1.34-11.4,p = 0.022) and “comorbid”(IRR 1.95, 95%CI1.09-3.74,p = 0.033) significantly increased with frequency after publication of the VHWG.The VHWG publication likely contributed to a focus on comorbidities and biologic mesh in the ensuing literature within the field of VHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]