A Global Bibliometric Analysis of Publications on Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation After Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has become the standard therapy due to its high efficacy and recurrent complication potential. With the increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in an aging population, effective management remains a challenge. It is an area of active research and clinical emphasis, advancing ablation techniques that can provide new opportunities to optimize outcomes and minimize recurrence. The aim of this bibliometric investigation was to assess the publications of recurrent AF after radiofrequency ablation. A thorough bibliometric analysis was performed using publicly available and subscription-based data obtained from the Web of Science database on the publications concerning recurrent AF following radiofrequency ablation. The present study focused on a qualitative analysis of publication volume trends and patterns in languages, affiliations, publishing houses, journals, countries, year-by-year publication, category, and co-occurrence of the major keywords. The number of publications on recurrent AF after radiofrequency ablation has risen dramatically, with 276 studies involving 1763 researchers from 359 institutions in 35 countries. A total of 68.48% of papers are articles, while meeting abstracts contribute 25%, and review articles comprise 4% of the total. The number of publications has sharply increased in recent years, particularly in 2023 and 2024, with the highest number of publications being published in 2024. The average citations per document for the 10 most cited publications were 15.43. Important studies have provided essential insight into AF recurrence, while other studies have investigated predictors of AF recurrence, such as left atrial volume, as well as sleep apnea and corticosteroid therapy. China is the most voluminous contributor to the field, with 122 publications and 591 citations. Among the most remarkable countries, institutions, and journals, Japan and South Korea hold a significant share. Notably, Japan's University of Tsukuba stands out with a high citation count despite a relatively low number of publications. In total, the articles have been published across 96 journals, with the European Heart Journal contributing the highest number of publications. Topics such as ablation techniques, atrial fibrosis, and predictors of recurrence are increasingly prominent, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of this research domain. There has been a dramatic increase in relevant publications, with China at the center of production and cooperation. Landmark studies have significantly improved our understanding of recurrence predictors and treatment outcomes. New trends in ablative techniques, as well as factors surrounding recurrence, continue to highlight progression within the field.