The relationship between prostate cancer and metabolic syndrome: A bibliometric analysis (2021–2023)

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common malignancy among men worldwide, and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has drawn considerable attention. However, the existing literature lacks a systematic analysis of research trends and hotspots in this field. METHODS: We searched for studies related to PCa and MetS from 2001 to 2023 in the Web of Science Core Collection database and then downloaded the data into CiteSpace to generate a visualization map. RESULTS: A total of 821 articles were included, and the number of papers on the relationship between PCa and MetS showed a slow and steady growth trend over the years. The author with the highest publication volume was De Nunzio, Cosimo, and Harvard University had the most publications among the research institutions, with the United States, Italy, and China being the top 3 countries in terms of publication volume. The research hotspots mainly focused on MetS, PCa, risk, insulin resistance, men, and androgen deprivation therapy. The keyword clusters mainly included #0 benign prostatic hyperplasia, #1 testosterone, #2 cancer, #3 androgen deprivation therapy, #4 insulin resistance, #5 congenital adrenal hyperplasia, #6 disease prevention, #7 metabolic syndrome, #8 drug therapy, #9 experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and #10 iron homeostasis. CONCLUSION: The bibliometric study results provide the current status and trends for publications in the field of PCa and MetS. MetS may be closely related to the occurrence of PCa. Early treatment of MetS is an effective approach to preventing PCa and improving prognosis. This study may help researchers identify hotspots and explore new research directions.