Bibliometric analysis of research trends and collaboration patterns in cardio-oncology focusing on lung cancer and heart failure.

[BACKGROUND] Lung cancer (LC) and heart failure (HF) are being increasingly seen as related conditions, with rising concerns about the cardiotoxic effects of treatments.

[METHODS] We conducted a bibliometric study on research related to LC and HF from 2014 to 2024 using the Web of Science Core Collection. To examine research trends and collaborations, data were analyzed and visualized using R, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer.

[RESULTS] The research encompassed 531 articles from 194 different journals, with contributions from 3963 authors. The United States and China have been the leading contributors to LC and HF research, with 146 and 120 publications, and 5307 and 1403 citations, respectively. Carmen Bergom from the United States, along with Aidan J. Cole, Suneil Jain, and Gerard M. Walls from the United Kingdom, are recognized leaders in this field due to their prolific publications. Lancet Oncology has consistently and significantly impacted the field, and an article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, which is the most cited, examines cardiac toxicity after radiotherapy for Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer through a pooled analysis of dose-escalation trials delivering 70 to 90 Gy. The focus of recent research is on immunotherapy (ICIs), cardiac toxicity associated with radiotherapy, and palliative care.

[CONCLUSION] This innovative mapping research highlights an increasing focus on the link between LC and HF, particularly concerning treatment-induced cardiotoxicity. Nonetheless, studies on their two-way interaction are still scarce, pointing to a promising yet under-researched area. Combining oncology and cardiology could reveal new insights to tailor personalized care and enhance results. Our research provides a foundation for future interdisciplinary investigations in the developing field of cardio-oncology.