Knowledge mapping of targeted therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A bibliometric analysis of myosin inhibitor research

Background: Targeted therapy using myosin inhibitors represents a groundbreaking advancement in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, identify key trends, and evaluate the scientific impact of myosin inhibitor studies from 2016 to 2025. Methods: We systematically retrieved publications from the Web of Science Core Collection using predefined search terms related to myosin inhibitors and HCM. Utilizing VOSviewer software, CiteSpace, and R-Bibliometrix Package, we performed co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Bibliometric indicators (e.g., publication volume, citations, h -index) were employed to assess research productivity and influence. Results: This bibliometric analysis encompassed 379 publications (2016–2025) on myosin inhibitors for HCM, showing exponential growth. The United States dominated research output (37% of total publications), followed by Italy (30 publications) and Germany (14 publications). Leading institutions included the University of Pennsylvania (39 publications, 1585 citations) and Bristol Myers Squibb (32 publications). Journal of the American College of Cardiology emerged as the top publishing venue (16 papers, 937 citations). Key researchers were identified: Olivotto I (most productive, 40 papers, h -index = 16), Saberi S (most cited, 1957 citations), and Sehnert AJ (highest impact, h -index = 16 with 27 papers). Three research phases were evident: mechanistic (2016–2018), clinical translation (2019–2021), and personalized therapy (2022–2025), with AI applications showing 4.2% annual growth. Citation networks showed that foundational studies (e.g., Green et al, 2016) were frequently cited by subsequent clinical research, reflecting a temporal citation pattern in which earlier mechanistic publications were frequently referenced by later clinically focused studies. Conclusions: This study presents a descriptive bibliometric overview of publication patterns for myosin inhibitor research in HCM, describing the publication patterns and collaborative networks that characterize this field. While North America and Europe lead productivity, global collaboration gaps persist. Future research should prioritize real-world evidence, combination therapies, and equitable knowledge dissemination. These findings offer strategic insights for researchers, funders, and policymakers advancing targeted HCM therapies.