Bibliometric analysis of PCSK9 inhibitors for cardiovascular disease management based on Web of Science

doi:10.5246/jcps.2025.03.018

Abstract

Abstract:

o comprehensively analyze the current research landscape and emerging trends in the application of pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors for treating cardiovascular diseases, a bibliometric analysis was conducted. Relevant English-language literature on PCSK9 inhibitors in cardiovascular treatment, published between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2023, was retrieved from the Web of Science core collection database. Utilizing tools such as VOSviewer 1.6.20, CiteSpace 6.2.R6, and Excel 2021, the study examined key features of the literature, including annual publication trends, contributing countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, and key research themes. The analysis identified a total of 1383 articles, revealing a general upward trend in annual publication output. Research in this field has been conducted by 78 countries/regions, with the United States leading in the number of publications (563 articles). The United States also demonstrates strong collaborative networks with other leading countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. In terms of institutional contributions, 2379 institutions have published relevant studies, with Amgen Inc. producing the most publications (n = 70). Among individual contributors, Professor Giugliano from the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Study Group at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School is the most prolific author, with 37 publications. Meanwhile, Professor Sabatine, also from the TIMI Study Group, holds the highest number of co-citations, underscoring his influence in the field. The analysis also identified 436 journals publishing research on PCSK9 inhibitors, with the Journal of Clinical Lipidology being the most productive (n = 54). However, the New England Journal of Medicine is noted as the journal with the highest co-citation count, indicating its significant impact on this research area. Research hotspots have focused on the efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors, alongside the clinical application of conventional lipid-lowering therapies such as statins and ezetimibe. Notably, the development of monoclonal antibodies and siRNA-based therapies targeting PCSK9 has gained considerable attention over the past decade due to their superior ability to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The effectiveness and long-term safety profiles of these novel agents are of growing interest, prompting updates to lipid management guidelines and offering new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Key words: PCSK9 inhibitors, Cardiovascular diseases, Bibliometrics, Visualization, VOSviewer, CiteSpace

Supporting:

Yu Wang, Xiaojing Lu, Xiangfeng Yue, Linwei Kan, Shuzhang Du. Bibliometric analysis of PCSK9 inhibitors for cardiovascular disease management based on Web of Science[J]. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 34(3): 232-250.

Figures/Tables 12

Table 1. Top 10 countries/regions and institutions engaged in research on PCSK9 inhibitors for cardiovascular disease treatment.

Table 2. The top 10 authors and co-cited authors in PCSK9 inhibitor research in cardiovascular disease domain.

Table 3. The top 10 journals publishing research on PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Table 4. The top 10 co-cited journals in research on PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Table 5. The top 15 co-cited references in research on PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

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