Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease in Children and Adolescents: A Scientometric Assessment of South Asia’s Publications during 2007–2024

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Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant global health issue, particularly in South Asia, due to rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes. This study conducts a scientometric assessment of South Asian publications on MAFLD in children and adolescents from 2007 to 2024 to map publication trends, identify key research areas, and assess international collaborations. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant literature on “MAFLD OR NAFLD” and “children and adolescents” in South Asia from the Scopus database for articles and reviews published between 2007 and 2024. A total of 88 publications were analyzed. Results: The 88 South Asian publications exhibited an average annual growth rate of 53.03%. India was the dominant contributor (71 papers), followed by Pakistan (12), Sri Lanka (9), Bangladesh (6), and Nepal (4). Externally funded papers (26.14%) and internationally collaborative papers (31.82%) showed substantially higher citations per publication (CPP) (157.74 and 185.14, respectively) compared to the overall average (66.17 CPP). The overall research volume from South Asia remained low (3.43% of global publications), with most research conducted nationally and limited international collaboration. Key research areas focused on epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical associations. The “lean MAFLD” phenotype is highly prevalent (up to 43.4%) [1–3]. Conclusion: MAFLD in South Asian children and adolescents is a rapidly growing epidemic that is underrepresented in global research. There is an urgent need for regionally tailored guidelines, improved screening and management strategies, and increased investment in collaborative, high-quality research. Policymakers, clinicians, and researchers must recognize MAFLD as a marker of broader metabolic dysfunction and respond with coordinated, evidence-based strategies.