Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Activity on Stroke Mortality: 1961-2024

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global stroke mortality research, by assessing publication trends, top authors, institutions, countries, and thematic analysis of keywords.

We performed a bibliometric analysis using Web of Science data retrieved on December 21, 2024, based on title searches for "Stroke mortality," "CVA mortality," "Cerebral infarction mortality," and "Cerebrovascular accident mortality." We generated descriptive statistics, investigated publication and citation trends, and performed advanced mappings for keyword frequency and thematic evolution.

Of 2,261 stroke mortality documents from 636 journals (1961-2024), the annual growth was 1.73%. Each document averaged 37.7 citations, with 46,494 total references. This study included 14,456 authors (48 single-authored) and averaged 8.89 coauthors per document; 21.32% involved international collaboration. Publication output increased markedly post-2000, peaking with 1,171 studies in 2017-2024. Stroke (246 articles) was the most productive journal followed by Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases (137); the USA (2,975 articles) and China (2,536) dominated global output. Wang Y led as the most prolific author (77 articles), and Capital Medical University in China produced the highest number of publications (143). Collaboration networks featured strong multinational clusters led by the USA, China, and key European nations.

This bibliometric analysis showed a steady but modest research growth, with the USA and China leading in output and citation. Thematic shifts revealed movement from clinical risk factors to public health and biological predictors. While strong international collaborations exist, regional partnerships remain limited in areas like Africa and Latin America.