Evolution and paradigms in ion channel and cardiac remodeling

Objective: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the literature on the role of ion channels in cardiac remodeling. Methods: Articles on ion channels and cardiac remodeling from 1979 to 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometric analysis and visualization utilized CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R package “bibliometrix.” The analysis examined publication trends, citation patterns, influential journals, countries, authors, institutions, and keywords. Results: This study analyzed 1148 articles (1979–2024) on ion channels and cardiac remodeling, involving 6931 authors from 3709 institutions. Annual publications peaked at 82 in 2019, with the U.S. leading. The most cited paper appeared in Circulation Research (2014). Circulation published the most studies (65), while Cardiovascular Research had the strongest links. Stanley Nattel was the top author, and the University of Montreal/Montreal Heart Institute ranked highest among institutions. Research hotspots included therapeutic strategies, potassium/calcium channel remodeling, and clinical implications. Key keywords were “expression,” “heart failure,” and “mechanisms,” with “dysfunction” exhibiting the strongest citation burst. Emerging focal points include fibrosis, oxidative stress, and microRNAs. Conclusions: Future bibliometric trends highlight targeting ion channels as a prominent research direction, warranting further mechanistic and clinical evidence synthesis for precision therapy development.