Abstract
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: With the rising global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), effective treatment strategies are essential. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, key in T2DM management, offer benefits beyond glycemic control. This study aimed to assess global research trends, hotspots, and future directions of SGLT2 inhibitor studies in T2DM through bibliometric analysis. METHODS: English-language publications on SGLT2 inhibitors in T2DM (2014-2024) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric techniques were applied to analyze publication output, geographic distributions, institutional contributions, and citation patterns. Visualization and network analyses were conducted using VOSviewer (v1.6.19) and CiteSpace (v6.3.1.0). RESULTS: A total of 4,146 publications were identified. The USA led in research output (1,152 publications), followed by Japan (857) and China (792). Annual publications grew steadily. Keyword and citation analyses revealed a shift in research focus from glycemic control to cardiovascular and renal protection. The most cited paper, Dapagliflozin and Cardiovascular Outcomes (3,842 citations), emphasized the cardiovascular benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors, reflecting the evolving "prevention-treatment integration" approach in diabetes care. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global SGLT2 inhibitor research in T2DM. The findings highlight the transition from metabolic control to cardiorenal protection, guiding future research and clinical practice.