Global trends and hotspots of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: A bibliometric study and visualization analysis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bibliometric analysis of publication metadata; provides no direct clinical or patient-level data (graded by design analogy).
PubMed 39817223 · doi:10.4239/wjd.v16.i1.96032
What was done
Authors conducted a bibliometric and visualization analysis of literature on type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents published between 1983 and 2023. Data were retrieved from three Web of Science Core Collection citation databases (SCI, SSCI, ESCI) using search terms related to children, adolescents, and type 2 diabetes. Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, the authors evaluated annual publication output, contributing countries and institutions, co-cited authors, journal overlays, citation overlays, and keyword dynamics.
What was found
A total of 9,210 articles were analyzed, demonstrating a steady growth in annual publication volume from 1983 to 2023. The United States led in total publication count, H-index, number of contributing institutions, and overall research capacity. Global publications primarily appeared in diabetes, nutrition, endocrinology, and metabolism journals. Keyword analysis identified emerging research clusters around endothelial dysfunction, exposure risk, cardiometabolic risk, gut microbiota changes, and disease comorbidities and outcomes.
Why it matters
This bibliometric map documents the shifting research priorities in pediatric type 2 diabetes over four decades, highlighting a growing focus on underlying cardiometabolic mechanisms, gut microbiome interactions, and multivariable risk factors.
Limits
The search was restricted exclusively to three Web of Science Core Collection databases, excluding publications that may only be indexed in other sources such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, or Scopus. Bibliometric data capture volume and citation trends rather than the clinical quality, rigor, or therapeutic efficacy of the included studies.
Cited by
- supports Type 2 diabetes has historically not been a pediatric disease and has recently emerged as an international health problem among children.