Global hotspots and trends on environmental exposure and cardiovascular disease from 1999 to 2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The increasing risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with worsening environmental exposure is a critical health concern garnering global research attention.

AIM

To systematically assess the scope and characteristics of research on the relationship between environmental exposure and CVD.

METHODS

A thorough examination of publications on the relationship between environmental exposure and CVD from 1999 to 2022 was carried out by extensively screening the literature using the Web of Science Core Collection. The language of the selected publications was standardized to English. Afterward, different academic tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, HistCite, Python, Matplotlib, and Bibliometrix were utilized to examine the research trends in this field.

RESULTS

The study’s findings indicated a steady increase in scientific publications among the 1640 analyzed documents, peaking in 2022 with 197 publications. The United States emerged as the leading nation regarding high-quality publications and international collaboration. Harvard University was identified as the most prolific institution. “Environmental research” was the most frequently contributing journal, and Muenzel T was recognized as the top contributor. Current research hotspots are primarily concentrated on themes such as “cardiovascular disease”, “exposure”, “risk”, “mortality”, and “air pollution”.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights increasing research on the link between environmental exposure and CVD, identifying key exposures and diseases while emphasizing the need for further investigation into underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Bibliometrics; Environmental exposure; Cardiovascular disease; CiteSpace; VOSviewer; Web of Science

Core Tip: Environmental exposure plays a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Over the past 23 years, research in this field has expanded significantly, reflecting its growing importance. Various environmental exposures, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, have been linked to major CVDs such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure. However, while existing studies have proposed potential mechanisms, the pathways connecting environmental exposure to CVDs remain insufficiently understood. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of global research trends and identifies key areas for future investigation.