Tracing the Rise of Galectin-3: A Global Bibliometric Insight Into Its Role in Heart Failure

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a growing clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality. Galectin-3, a key player in cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, has emerged as an important biomarker for HF. This bibliometric analysis is aimed at exploring global scientific output and research trends on the relationship between galectin-3 and HF. Methods: A bibliometric literature search was conducted on the Web of Science in September 2024. Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer were used for scientometric analysis and to visualize scientific achievements, including publication counts, key authors, countries, organizations, journals, and research hotspots in the field. Results: A total of 705 publications met the inclusion criteria after screening. Research on galectin-3 and HF is currently experiencing rapid growth. The United States, China, and the Netherlands produced the most articles, contributing approximately 55% (388/705) of all papers. Most institutions and authors were from the United States and the Netherlands, with the University of Groningen (Netherlands) being the top publishing institution. Key authors include De Boer RA, Januzzi JI, and Van Veldhuisen DJ. The European Journal of Heart Failure was the most cited journal and had the highest number of publications. Key research topics include the relationship between galectin-3 and HF prognosis, fibrosis, mortality, and conditions leading to HF. Conclusion: This is the first bibliometric analysis of publications on the association between galectin-3 and HF. This study provides researchers with valuable insights into the most influential articles on this biomarker and its role in HF. Key research areas focus on galectin-3 role in the diagnosis, pathology, and prognosis of various HF types, causes, and outcomes. Further research should explore how galectin-3 can facilitate earlier diagnosis of HF or fibrosis, with increased international collaboration among researchers.