Primary Care for Gestational Diabetes: A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications from 1991 to 2024

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a significant medical complication during pregnancy, with a global prevalence ranging from 2% to 26% and increasing by over 30% in recent decades. Therefore, the aim of our study is to assess the trends and distribution of published studies, as well as the contributions of countries, institutions, journals, and authors to the development of primary care for pregnant women with gestational diabetes. In this bibliometric analysis, we examine the role of primary health care in GDM from 1991 to 2024. The data were sourced from Scopus and Web of Science, encompassing 276 articles from 150 sources and involving 1375 authors. The analysis reveals a steady increase in publications, with a 4.29% annual growth rate. This study identifies the USA and UK as leading countries in GDM research, and there are significant international collaborations, with the USA having 17 joint articles with other countries. The University of Eastern Finland, Ohio State University, and Harvard University are noted as the most prolific institutions, with 23, 17, and 16 articles, respectively. Additionally, the journal Diabetes Care published the highest number of articles, totaling 635. Prominent authors such as Bernstein J. and McCloskey L., with seven articles each, have made substantial contributions to the field. Our work highlights the need to pay special attention to primary care for gestational diabetes, as many negative consequences of the disease can be prevented at this stage. Innovative approaches to screening for GDM can significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce health risks, which will have long-term positive effects both for individual patients and society as a whole.