Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis, an emerging form of cell death, holds substantial promise for elucidating the etiology and improving treatment methods for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This work aims to comprehensively analyze cutting-edge research and future trends in CVDs, guiding research progress and the development of new therapies. METHODS: We retrieved articles and reviews related to ferroptosis in CVDs from the Web of Science Core Collection database, spanning the period from January 1, 2016, to April 22, 2025. Visualization and statistical analysis were performed using CiteSpace (6.2.R3) and VOSviewer (1.6.19) software. RESULTS: The bibliometric analysis of ferroptosis in CVDs reveals a significant increase in research output since 2016, with a peak in publications in 2024. China leads in publication volume, with Southern Medical University being a key contributor. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences is the most prolific journal, and authors like Zhang Jing have the highest publication counts. Research focus has shifted over time, with recent emphasis on "cardiovascular diseases," "myocardial infarction," "lipid metabolism," "autophagy," and "mitochondrial dysfunction." CONCLUSIONS: Our bibliometric analysis reveals the rapid growth and evolving focus of ferroptosis research in CVDs, with China and the USA leading in output. Future work should prioritize developing biomarkers, multi-omics analyses, and the elucidation of specific molecular mechanisms to enhance clinical translation. Global collaboration remains key to accelerating innovation in this field.