Dyslipidemia research landscape and socioeconomic facilitators of scientific productivity in Southeast Asia

Background: The growing prevalence of lipid disorder in Southeast Asia (SEA) resulted in an increase in clinical and epidemiological studies on dyslipidemia in the region. Thus, there is a need to summarize the existing evidence from the literature. Aims: This paper determined the research landscape of dyslipidemia in SEA. This study also identified the socioeconomic facilitators of scientific productivity in dyslipidemia research in SEA. Methods: A database search of dyslipidemia literature in SEA countries was performed using the Scopus database. Bibliographic information was obtained, and network visualization of collaboration among countries and keywords was created using VOSviewer software. Results: This bibliometric analysis showed a continuous increase in published articles in SEA, most of which were from universities and hospitals in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The usual topics of dyslipidemia research in SEA include epidemiology, pathophysiology, comorbidities and complications, and treatment options for dyslipidemia. Research & development expenditure (total citations: p = 0.037; h-index: p = 0.031) and researchers in R&D (total citations: p = 0.005; h-index: p = 0.017) were positively correlated with citations and h-index for dyslipidemia publications from SEA countries. Moreover, the number of research collaborations within SEA and worldwide was positively correlated with the total publications, citations, and h-index of SEA countries for their dyslipidemia research outputs. Conclusion: In summary, this bibliometrics study showed an increasing trend of dyslipidemia research in SEA countries. Policymakers and administrators should invest more in dyslipidemia studies to propose better strategies in curbing the prevalence of this condition in SEA.