Global trends and hotspots of inflammation in diabetic retinopathy: a literature review and bibliometric analysis
Jijuan Zhong, Chensi Yao, Yamei Jin
Abstract
Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a global public health problem, with inflammation playing a pivotal role in its progression. In this study, we aimed to assess the current research landscape of inflammation in DR and identified emerging frontiers using bibliometric analysis. Methods Relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization. Results Overall, 3,419 publications on inflammation in DR over the past 44 years were identified, exhibiting an upward trend. China had the highest number of publications, while the United States had the majority of citations. Shanghai Jiao Tong University was the most active institution, and Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science was the most productive journal. Timothy S. Kern contributed the most publications, with the highest total/average citations. Research mainly focused on the risk factors, mechanisms, and potential therapies in this field. Key areas of future exploration include the roles of the NLRP3 inflammasome and gut microbiota, the correlation between DR and age-related macular degeneration, and advancements in identification techniques and optical coherence tomography. Conclusion We provide a systematic overview of the academic literature on inflammation in DR over the past few decades. The United States and China have been pivotal in conducting research in this field. Optical coherence tomography screening and the precise identification of inflammation in DR are likely to emerge as the next area of focus. Further understanding the roles of NLRP3 and the gut microbiota in inflammation in DR is also a potential research direction. Additionally, identifying the mechanisms of inflammation underlying DR and age-related macular degeneration is a cutting-edge and urgent research priority.