title: Global publication trends and research hotspots of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review.
abstract: With the globally increasing prevalence, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) becomes the predominant cause of chronic liver disease. A global look at the publication trends and the research hotspots of NAFLD are urgently needed to assess the situation of NAFLD research. The global scientific research in the Science Citation Index-Expanded covered articles relevant to NAFLD was retrieved and its bibliometric parameters and research hotspots of NAFLD were systematically evaluated. To sum up, 6356 articles were published in 994 different journals covering 93 SCI subject categories during 1986-2013, in which English was the most predominant language used. Starting from the late 1980s, the publication on NAFLD grew slowly and entered into a highly developing period in the 21st century, especially in the last decade. Besides hepatic steatosis, metabolic syndrome and its combination of symptoms such as obesity, insulin resistance are listed as the top frequent keywords. Bibliometric results suggest that the obviously rapid growth of the articles in recent years appears to be associated with the accelerating incidence of NAFLD and its cofactors such as metabolic syndrome. In addition, epidemiology focusing on comparing different regions and population is attracting ever-growing attention. Meantime, pathology plays an important role in NAFLD research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Tong-Shuo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Hua-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Hai-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Shi-Hai
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162 China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xiang
keywords: Bibliometrics; Epidemiology; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis