A bibliometric analysis of cardioembolic stroke utilizing HistCite Pro, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer.

BACKGROUND

Cardioembolic stroke (CES) often results in poorer outcomes than other ischemic stroke subtypes. Recent years have seen a marked increase in the scientific output of researchers, highlighting the need for a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to clarify the developmental trends, key research hotspots, and primary contributors in this research field.To perform a bibliometric analysis of CES utilizing HistCite Pro, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer.

METHODS

Data were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection, encompassing publications from January 1, 2011, to January 29, 2024. Publication characteristics were analyzed using HistCite Pro and the Web of Science, whereas VOSviewer and CiteSpace facilitated keyword and collaborative network analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 5498 publications were identified, originating from 7916 institutions across 112 countries/regions, published in 897 journals, and authored by 29,620 researchers. The annual number of publications surged from 2014 to 2022, with the United States and the Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases leading in contributions. The keyword network revealed 6 key clusters, emphasizing biomarkers, causes of CES, and randomized clinical trials evaluating direct oral anticoagulants for treating embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), CES, and cryptogenic stroke. Recent hotspots included direct oral anticoagulants, ESUS, Mendelian randomization, instruments, and atrial cardiopathy.

CONCLUSION

Research on CES has progressed rapidly, and research development and collaboration frequently occur across countries, regions, and institutions. Further strengthening these partnerships may advance the field. The recent focus on ESUS, Mendelian randomization, and atrial cardiopathy highlights the need for refined etiological phenotyping and individualized secondary prevention.