Recent trends and hotspots in diabetic foot ulcer research over the last decade: a bibliometrics study and suggestions for researchers

Objectives: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) represents a common and severe complication of diabetes, posing a substantial risk factor for amputation. Over the past decade, the number of research publications on DFU has been increasing year by year. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to explore the tendencies, frontiers, and hotspots of global scientific output in DFU research during the past decade. Methods: This study comprehensively retrieved publications and recorded information spanning from 2014 to 2023, utilizing the expansive Science Citation Index (SCI-Expanded) within the prestigious Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), ensuring a comprehensive overview of research trends over the past decade. Utilizing VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and WeChat online tools, we performed a comprehensive bibliometric and visualization analysis, investigating the annual output trends, leading nations, active institutions, journals, prominent authors, co-cited references, and key terms that characterize the overall distribution of research in the field. Results: Overall, we acquired 6775 articles and reviews, with a notable rise in the yearly count of publications dedicated to DFU research over the preceding 10 years. The United States led in both the number of publications and achieved the highest H-index and citation count, showcasing its dominance in the field. Texas University System and the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds emerged as the most prolific institutions and periodicals, respectively, in terms of output. The 2017 paper by Armstrong DG garnered a total Global Citation Score (GCS) of 1711, securing the top spot among its peers. The most frequently occurring keywords included “diabetic foot,” “diabetic foot ulcer,” “management,” “risk-factors,” and “care.” This study indicates that the publication volume related to DFU is on the rise. The top 3 contributor authors were Armstrong, David G., Lavery, Lawrence A., and Van Netten, Jaap. Emerging research hotspots encompassed “epidermal growth factor,” “wound care,” “nanoparticles,” “ulcer recurrence,” “IWGDF guidance,” and “skin temperature,” indicating the dynamic progress of new technologies and methods in the field of DFU treatment. Conclusions: Our analysis illuminated the prevailing research hotspots and evolving trends in DFU over the last 10 years. Grasping the pivotal indicators (researchers, nations, institutions, journals, etc) and research hotspots in DFU can empower scholars with a deeper understanding of the field and foster insights into prospective research avenues.