Key result
Oral anticoagulation research shifts from efficacy trials toward real-world implementation and personalized care.
Why the study?
The intellectual evolution, thematic development, and collaborative patterns of oral anticoagulation research in atrial fibrillation from 2006 to 2025 had not been systematically mapped.
This comprehensive bibliometric analysis demonstrates the maturation of oral anticoagulation research in atrial fibrillation, highlighting a clear transition from foundational DOAC efficacy trials toward real-world implementation, guideline development, and personalized patient management.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May redirect AF anticoagulation research toward real-world and personalized priorities; leaves open effects on clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically map the intellectual evolution, thematic development, and collaborative patterns of oral anticoagulation research in atrial fibrillation (AF) from 2006 to 2025. METHODS: This bibliometric study analyzed 11,039 documents indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (2006-2025) using the Bibliometrix R package (version 4.x) within the R statistical environment (version 4.3.1) for comprehensive science mapping. The analytical workflow comprised descriptive performance analysis, collaboration network analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, strategic thematic mapping, and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling. RESULTS: Publication output increased exponentially from 2 articles per year (2006) to a peak of 960 per year (2021), with subsequent stabilization that may reflect consolidation of the field. The United States produced the highest number of publications (3636; 32.9%). The RE-LY trial received the most citations (n=8788). Thematic mapping revealed two main research clusters: Motor themes (141 keywords), representing direct oral anticoagulant agents, stroke prevention, and clinical outcomes; and emerging/declining themes (43 keywords), including venous thromboembolism and pharmacokinetics. LDA topic modeling identified nine distinct research domains encompassing real-world data, safety reporting, and implementation guidelines. CONCLUSION: The bibliometric patterns observed are consistent with a maturing research field, characterized by a gradual shift from efficacy-focused randomized trials toward real-world effectiveness studies, implementation science, and personalized anticoagulation strategies. Future research may benefit from increased emphasis on long-term adherence, health-economic outcomes, and personalized approaches integrating genetic, clinical, and patient-centered factors.
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Coşkun et al. (2026) studied Atrial Fibrillation (n=11,039). Oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation research publications was evaluated on Publication trends, thematic development, and collaborative patterns. Bibliometric analysis of 11,039 publications revealed that research output increased exponentially to a peak in 2021, marking a thematic shift from efficacy-focused trials toward real-world implementation and personalized care.
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