Hotspots and frontiers in patent foramen ovale research: a bibliometric and visualization analysis from 2003 to 2023

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is among the most common congenital heart defects. Over the last two decades, the number of research publications on PFO has increased. This study aims to identify and describe the current state, hotspots, and emerging trends in PFO research over the previous 20 years using bibliometric analysis and visual mapping.

The Web of Science Core Collection was searched for all publications on PFO research, which were then included in the study. CtieSpace, VOSviewer, and Excel software were used to visualize general information, publication output, countries/regions, authors, journals, influential papers, and keyword trends in this field.

This comprehensive analysis included 14,495 publications from 6,190 institutions across 115 countries. The United States dominated with the highest number of publications (2,407) and international collaborations. Mas JL made significant contributions to the PFO field, while Meier B emerged as a leading author, publishing 81 articles during the past 20 years. There were strong international collaborations among countries, institutions, and authors. Stroke, Circulation, and the New England Journal of Medicine were the most cited journals, with 13,124, 10,136, and 9,867 citations, respectively.

This bibliometric study revealed that recent research frontiers primarily focused on the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with PFO. Future studies are expected to delve deeper into the biological mechanisms by which PFO contributes to stroke, the efficacy and limitations of PFO closure techniques, and the exploration of genetic variations associated with PFO and their roles in disease susceptibility.