Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis of Knowledge Mapping and Trend Evolution over a Decade

Abstract

Background: The gut microbiota, as a vital “microbial organ” in the human body, has attracted increasing attention for its close relationship with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aims to systematically review the research progress in this field from 2015 to 2025 using bibliometric methods, revealing its knowledge structure, evolution, and emerging trends. Methods: Publications from January 1, 2015, to July 1, 2025, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to conduct a visualized analysis of annual output, countries/regions, institutions, authorship networks, and keyword evolution. Results: Over the past decade, the number of publications in this field has grown rapidly, entering a high-speed development phase. China (2376 articles) and the United States (1401 articles) are the most prolific countries and play a central role in international collaboration. Leading institutions include the University of California System (207 articles), Harvard University (178 articles), and Southern Medical University (156 articles). Influential authors such as Hazen, Stanley L. (83 articles) and Wang, Zeneng (61 articles) have formed core research teams. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering analysis show that research hotspots focus on the gut microbiota’s involvement in “inflammation”, “obesity”, and “atherosclerosis”. The field has evolved from association studies to mechanistic and clinical explorations, with emerging frontiers such as “Mendelian randomization”, “ischemic stroke”, and “cognitive impairment” indicating a shift toward causality and disease-specific endpoints. Conclusion: The intersection of gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease represents a rapidly expanding research frontier characterized by active global collaboration and concentrated thematic focus. Future studies are expected to deepen causal inference, target specific clinical outcomes (e.g., ischemic stroke), and expand toward cross-disciplinary domains such as the gut-heart-brain axis and cognitive dysfunction.