Mapping publication trends in oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: A bibliometric and thematic analysis of 11,039 publications (2006–2025)

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 anticoagulants 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.

Keywords: Anticoagulants, Atrial fibrillation, Bibliometrics, Periodicals as topic, Stroke