Abstract / Summary
Missing data is common in observational studies, and even more so in type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild cognitive impairment(T2DM-MCI), which limits the completion of assessments. We evaluated the extent, current reporting, and handling of missing data, as well as the prevailing research trends in observational studies related to T2DM-MCI. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted from January 2020 to April 2025 to identify observational studies related to T2DM-MCI. Bibliometrics was performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to evaluate publishing trends, authors, journals, and keywords. The reporting and handling of missing data were assessed according to the guidelines recommended by STROBE and Sterne et al., with a focus on the recording, causes, mechanisms, processing methods, and sensitivity analysis of missing data. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26, and visualization was performed using Origin Pro 2024. Among the 4,471 screened records, 88 studies (78 in English and 10 in Chinese) were included in this analysis. Among the 78 English articles, the annual publication volume exhibited fluctuations, peaking in 2024. Chinese institutions and authors led in research output. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity had the highest publication volume (7, 8.97%). Keyword identified five clusters: 1) resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, 2) metabolic disorders, 3) clinical assessment tools, 4) molecular mechanisms, and 5) emerging fields such as the gut microbiome. Only 22.7% (n = 20) of the studies quantified the missing data, with an average of 9.1%. Among studies with missing data (n = 23), 52.2% (n = 12) provided reasons for missing data, primarily citing poor quality of data collection (41.7%) and loss to follow-up (41.7%). Complete case analysis was the predominant method for addressing missing data (93.3%). No study articulated the hypothesized mechanisms underlying the missing data, and only 4.4% (n = 1) performed a sensitivity analysis. In the domain of T2DM-MCI, research outcomes post-COVID-19 pandemic indicate a rebound, with China maintaining a leading position in scientific research output. However, the reporting of missing data remains ambiguous, and the methods employed to handle such data are insufficient, which may potentially introduce bias. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EZDXM.
Primary Source
Frontiers in endocrinology
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