A bibliometric analysis of the literature published on autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis in cardiovascular disease from 2009 to 2023.

Background: Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Among the various types of PCD, autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis have garnered increasing attention due to their involvement in inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiomyocyte survival. Although numerous studies have explored the underlying mechanisms of these pathways, their therapeutic potential in clinical practice remains limited. With the rapid growth of publications in this field, a comprehensive understanding of research trends and influential studies is essential to guide future investigations. This study aimed to characterize the progress and research hotspots of autophagy in CVD, ferroptosis in CVD, necroptosis in CVD, and pyroptosis in CVD through a bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive overview of PCD in CVD.

Methods: Publications from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2023, were analyzed using the "bibliometrix" R package to assess research output, key contributors, and influential journals in each field.

Results: For the topic of autophagy in CVD, 6,426 articles published by 4,891 institutions from 90 countries/regions were retrieved. For the topic of necroptosis in CVD, 393 articles from 616 organizations in 53 countries/regions were retrieved. For the topic of pyroptosis in CVD, 640 publications from 754 institutions in 48 countries/regions were retrieved. Finally, for the topic of ferroptosis in CVD, 687 articles from 827 institutions in 49 countries/regions were retrieved. Key contributors included Adriana A (22 publications on necroptosis), Ge J, and Ye B (8 publications each on pyroptosis), and Ren J (lead contributor in autophagy and ferroptosis, with 120 and 10 publications, respectively). The most frequently co-cited journals were Cell, Nature, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis highlights the growing interest in PCD in CVD research, with autophagy and pyroptosis being the central themes. Future studies should examine therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis and necroptosis to improve CVD treatment. The findings provide a roadmap for researchers to navigate emerging research hotspots and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.