Bibliometric analysis: Insights into the podiatric medicine landscape of diabetic sensory peripheral neuropathy and genomics

Abstract

Background and aims: Research into diabetic foot complications is extensive; it remains challenging to identify critical literature. Evolving interprofessional boundaries, alongside advances in molecular medicine and pathophysiological understanding, necessitates mapping of the scientific literature (corpus). Impact of these advances on podiatric medicine remains unclear. This study explores topics, research performance, and evolution across the literature and disciplines to understand the corpus in its current state.

Method: A retrospective-observational bibliometric analysis examined Web of Science publications using PRISMA search strategy (August 2023) to understand interconnectedness, direction, and intersectionality of subject disciplines, growth areas, and output. Curated phrases and disease focussed classification anchored investigation to diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Qualitative and quantitative approaches analysed publication meta-data (authors, citations, keywords) to map key concepts and scientific developments.

Results: Analysis of 589 records (1991-2023) revealed observational studies as the dominant design. Prominent concepts included risk, polyneuropathy, and prevalence, with authors favouring accessible terms (peripheral neuropathy) across specialisms. Leading research hubs were in England, Demark, USA, Qatar, Germany, and Italy. Diabetic Medicine and Diabetes Care remained the highest-cited journals, whilst the International Journal of Molecular Science, Cell Stem Cell, and Nature Reviews Neurology provided contemporary insights. Post-2016, methodological rigour and objectivity increased.

Discussion: Recurring topics included enhancing pre-clinical screening, addressing earlier diagnosis, pain management stratification with medicines optimisation, and reproducibility challenges. Case-controls increasingly replaced larger prospective, longitudinal study designs to improve diagnostic test accuracy and detection of diabetic neuropathy, particularly for neuropathic pain affecting small nerve fibres. Molecular approaches gained prominence signalling a shift from purely clinically derived approaches. The corpus responded to subjectivity and variable diagnostic criteria by prioritising objectivity. Emerging insights into channelopathies and mitochondrial dysfunction may augment current assessment/screening approaches to refine risk stratification and management strategies.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Benjamin Jones: orcid.org/0000-0003-2410-5280

ORCID for Reuben Pengelly: orcid.org/0000-0001-7022-645X

ORCID for Catherine Bowen: orcid.org/0000-0002-7252-9515

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