The Top Most-Cited and Influential Published Articles in Atrial Fibrillation from 1900 to 2019

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Research
• Scientific Assessment

Background:

• Citation classics are integral to medical and scientific research assessment.
• Article citation frequency indicates impact on clinical practice and research.
• A bibliometric analysis of atrial fibrillation (AF) literature was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify trends in the top 100 most cited articles on atrial fibrillation.
• To analyze publication patterns, origins, and influential institutions in AF research.

Main Methods:

• Searched Scopus and Web of Science databases in June 2019 for AF articles.
• Included articles from medicine, cardiology, electrophysiology, and thoracic surgery.
• Analyzed citation counts, publication year, country, and institution for top 100 articles.

Main Results:

• Top 100 cited AF articles received 622-6,641 citations (average 1041.3).
• Most articles (11) were published in 2004, primarily in English language journals.
• The United States (63 articles) was the leading country of origin, followed by Canada (24).
• Top institutions included McMaster University (9), Institut de Cardiologie de Montreal (8), and Harvard Medical School (7).

Conclusions:

• Highly cited AF articles are influenced by journal choice, publication language, geographic origin, and research methodology.
• Understanding these bibliometric trends can guide future high-impact research in atrial fibrillation.