Mapping the knowledge structure of research on insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome: a global perspective

Abstract

Abstract Background Insulin resistance is a major pathogenic factor that plays a crucial role in the development of metabolic syndrome and has been proposed as one of its underlying causes. Most diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome do not directly include insulin resistance. Furthermore, research on insulin resistance continues to provide information on the development and treatment of metabolic syndromes and related health conditions. Therefore, this bibliometric analysis aimed to investigate the current research status and identify possible future research hotspots in the area of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance by analyzing Scopus-based studies. Methods To collect published data on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, this study used the Scopus database as its data source without a particular starting date but including records up to December 31, 2022. The gathered documents were then exported to VOSviewer v.1.6.18 to analyze and visualize country collaborations and identify research areas of high interest. Results The study presents an overview of 1932 records between 1988 and 2022, focusing on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Of these records, 77.33% were original journal articles, while 13.30% were review articles. Additionally, 9.35% of the documents fall under other types of publication, including letters, notes, and editorials. The United States came out on top with 463 items, accounting for 23.96% of the contributions in this field, followed by Japan in second place with 119 items (6.16%). China (n = 113, 5.85%) and the United Kingdom (n = 113, 5.85%) ranked third. Most publications on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance focus on key terms related to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance syndrome, the use of waist circumference as a crucial clinical indicator to evaluate the risk of metabolic syndrome, and the association between metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory state. Conclusions This study presents the first bibliometric analysis of publications focusing on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The findings of this study offer a comprehensive global perspective on the research carried out on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance and can be an invaluable source for future research.