Top 10 Cardiovascular and Heart Disease Journals

Article Contents

1. Introduction
2. An overview of important Journal Metrics
3. A list of the top ranked journals for this therapeutic area
4. Ways to stay up to date with the latest research developments

Introduction

As the leading cause of morbidity among adults, heart disease is responsible for more than 17.9 million deaths globally per year.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the umbrella term for a range of diseases that affect the heart and its blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm issues (arrhythmias), congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, disease of the heart muscle, and heart infection. Heart disease is also linked to strokes, aneurysms, and an increased risk of dementia.

However, as CVD is largely a preventable disease (aside from congenital heart defects and a few other unavoidable risk factors—such as age, gender, ethnicity, and family history), there is much that can be done to significantly reduce deaths worldwide from CVD.

So as a nod to February being National Heart Month (and Congenital Heart Defect Week), we’ve put together a list of the Top 10 heart disease/CVD journals. By continuing to build knowledge of this critical health issue and staying up to date with research, medical professionals will be able to continue providing best practices for their patients.

Here you will find the top 10 Cardiovascular and Heart journals ranked by the 2-year Journal Impact Factor (2-JIF) – a measure of the frequency with which the articles within the journal are cited in a particular 2-year period.

We have also included these other factors for each journal in our assessment to round off the picture.

Journal Metrics

Impact factor*

The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is based on Web of Science data and only includes documents such as articles and reviews. The JIF helps to understand the importance of how often articles are cited by addressing the bias that arises from comparing citation numbers. This bias tends to advantage bigger journals over smaller ones, those published more often over those with fewer issues, and older journals over newer ones. This is because larger or older journals usually have more articles to be cited. By considering the impact factor, we can more fairly compare journals by taking into account these differences in size, publication frequency, and age. A JIF of 3 or more is considered good and 1 is average.

CiteScore*

CiteScore is based on Scopus data for all indexed documents, including articles, letters, and editorials, as well as articles and reviews. The CiteScore for a particular year is calculated by dividing the number of citations to all indexed documents within the journal from that year and the three preceding years by the total number of documents published in the journal within that same period.

• Impact factor and CiteScore have the most meaning when used to compare journals within the same therapeutic area. Many academics value a journal’s Impact Factor over its Citescore; therefore they will use the impact factor to rank other journals in the same field.

SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)

The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator evaluates the prestige of academic journals by considering not only the number of citations a journal receives but also the prestige of the journals that issue these citations. An SJR >1.0 is above average. This measurement can be helpful to rank journals within the same field and category.

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP)

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) weights citations based on the total number of citations in a subject field to provide a contextual, subject-specific metric. A SNIP over 1.0 means a journal has more citations than average.

Other Journal considerations

In addition to SJR ranking and journal impact factor, a good quality journal generally has the following characteristics:

1. It is indexed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science or another reputable journal index.
2. It has an up-to-date website, a clear scope, extensive information for authors and readers, and a publicly visible editorial board consisting of appropriately qualified board members affiliated with accredited universities and research institutions.
3. Each article is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

Top 10 Cardiovascular and Heart Disease Journals

Nature Reviews Cardiology

Nature Reviews Cardiology is a peer-reviewed journal covering all areas of cardiology. It offers detailed reviews of the latest research, clinical practices, and advancements in cardiovascular medicine. Aimed at cardiologists and healthcare professionals, it provides insights into complex issues and supports clinical decision-making.

• Impact Factor: 49.6
• CiteScore: 41.7
• SJR: 6.932
• SNIP: 6.405
• H-Index: 164

European Heart Journal

The European Heart Journal is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in cardiology. Published by the European Society of Cardiology, it focuses on cardiovascular medicine and the latest developments in this area, aiming to improve patient care through high-impact research.

• Impact Factor: 39.3
• CiteScore: 29.2
• SJR: 3.450
• SNIP: 6.755
• H-Index: 329

Circulation

Circulation, published by the American Heart Association, focuses on cardiovascular diseases and aims to advance research, diagnosis, and treatment. Its high-impact articles make it essential for clinicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals interested in the cardiovascular field.

• Impact Factor: 37.8
• CiteScore: 42.1
• SJR: 7.800
• SNIP: 6.144
• H-Index: 654

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) is highly regarded for its significant research in cardiology. Published by the American College of Cardiology, it provides comprehensive coverage of cardiovascular medicine, including groundbreaking studies and guidelines.

• Impact Factor: 24.4
• CiteScore: 40.8
• SJR: 8.343
• SNIP: 6.424
• H-Index: 472

JAMA Cardiology

JAMA Cardiology, published by the American Medical Association, covers advancements in cardiology, from clinical practice to policy. Known for its impactful findings, it informs the treatment of various heart conditions, including myocardial infarction and heart failure.

• Impact Factor: 24.0
• CiteScore: 41.2
• SJR: 7.371
• SNIP: 4.808
• H-Index: 99

Circulation Research

Circulation Research focuses on cardiovascular biology, including cardiac and vascular biology and stroke, making it an essential resource for scientists and clinicians in cardiovascular research.

• Impact Factor: 20.1
• CiteScore: 24.0
• SJR: 4.531
• SNIP: 3.534
• H-Index: 369

European Journal of Heart Failure

The European Journal of Heart Failure covers the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of heart failure, publishing high-quality research and insightful reviews.

• Impact Factor: 18.2
• CiteScore: 26.9
• SJR: 5.601
• SNIP: 3.679
• H-Index: 156

JACC: Heart Failure

JACC: Heart Failure provides insights into heart failure's pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment, recognised for its high-quality research and reviews.

• Impact Factor: 13.0
• CiteScore: 22.4
• SJR: 5.352
• SNIP: 3.600
• H-Index: 92

Cardiovascular Research

Cardiovascular Research, the official journal of the European Society of Cardiology, publishes high-impact articles on cardiovascular disease mechanisms, including cardiac metabolism and myocardial injury.

• Impact Factor: 10.9
• CiteScore: 18.3
• SJR: 2.481
• SNIP: 1.982
• H-Index: 234

Basic Research in Cardiology

Basic Research in Cardiology, published by the German Cardiac Society, offers original and review articles in experimental cardiology, covering the physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system.

• Impact Factor: 9.5
• CiteScore: 16.5
• SJR: 2.022
• SNIP: 1.712
• H-Index: 105

Publish or Perish - as true now as it ever was

In the high-stakes world of pharma and biotech, "Publish or Perish" isn't just a catchy phrase—it's the stark reality. For pharma companies and researchers, it's not enough to develop breakthroughs; the real challenge lies in getting those findings recognised in top journals. In this game, it's not just about playing your cards right; it's about having a seasoned player on your team. With Rx Communications in your corner, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance to make an impact with your research. Explore our Publications Support Services here.

How to Stay Up-to-Date with Cardiovascular & Heart Disease Research Developments

For pharma professionals and researchers working in the field of Cardiovascular and Heart disease, it is vital to stay abreast of the latest research advancements. To stay on top you might:

• Consider subscribing to our newsletter and receive updates to our top journal lists as well as other relevant industry and therapeutic developments as they happen.
• Register for an account with your selected journal to get direct access to new research as it's published.
• Customise an RSS feed for your selected journals to also further streamline the process, delivering the latest papers and articles directly to your digital doorstep.
• Setting up a Google alert with cardiovascular and heart research keywords to capture relevant news and studies from across the web.
• Lastly, don't underestimate the power of social media; by following the publishers and journals in the field, you'll tap into a community of shared knowledge and discourse.

* Article originally written by Erin Harrison and published in 2022, updated by Beth Howe and the Rx Team for 2024!