A bibliometric and visualization analysis of endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery disease from 2016 to 2025

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of mortality, with coronary artery disease (CAD), characterized by atherosclerosis, being its most prevalent form. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) significantly influences CAD development. This study performed a bibliometric and visual analysis to explore the research landscape and relationship between ED and CAD. Publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2016-2025) were analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. A total of 3,148 publications (1,948 articles, 1,200 reviews) were included. The United States (793/25.19%), China (673/21.38%) and Italy (325/10.32%) were the primary contributors in terms of the volume of publications, with Harvard University being the most prolific institution. The journal with the highest number of publications is the International Journal of Molecular Sciences ; Circulation is the most frequently cited journal and also the one with the highest centrality. Amir Lerman was the most published author, Peter Libby the most cited author, and Stephen J. Nicholls had the highest co-citation centrality. Important keywords identified were “coronary artery disease”, “endothelial dysfunction”, “atherosclerosis”, “risk factor” and “cardiovascular disease”. This analysis establishes a foundational knowledge framework covering research outputs over the past decade. Key areas for future exploration include coronary microvascular dysfunction, prevention, management, and the biomarker endocan, providing researchers and policymakers with a comprehensive overview of the field’s research landscape.