Mapping the Global Landscape of Dengue Fever Research: A Scientometric Analysis

Dengue fever (DF), an illness caused by the dengue virus and mainly spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has become a global health concern.

With the considerable increase in the incidence of DF in recent decades, there is a need for a comprehensive scientometric analysis to map the landscape of scientific research in this field.

This descriptive study utilized scientometric techniques for scientific analysis. The population consisted of all scientific publications on DF indexed in the Scopus database. Data were analyzed using Biblioshiny, a web-based graphical interface for the Bibliometrix package in the R programming language.

The study identified 3172 publications on DF from the Scopus database, with a significant growth observed since the early 1990s and peak publication years in 2019 (n = 202) and 2020 (n = 203). India, China, and the United States emerged as the most productive countries, forming the core of the international research collaboration network. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed dominant research focuses on "dengue virus," "Aedes aegypti," and "vector control." Thematic mapping showed that foundational themes such as "dengue fever" and "Aedes aegypti" are central but underdeveloped, while niche themes like "rainfall" and "temperature" are highly developed but less central. Thematic evolution analysis showed a clear shift from virology-centered topics (pre-2005) to predictive modeling, climate impact, and machine learning applications (2020-2024).

The comprehensive scientometric analysis shows that scientific production in the field of DF has significantly increased in recent decades. International collaborations play a vital role in advancing research and combating DF. Thematic analysis and mapping of research topics highlight significant advancements and the need for further research in specific areas. Continued collaborations and innovations are essential for effectively addressing the challenges of DF.