Exploration of Cardiology (EC) is a peer-reviewed, open-access online journal launched in August 2023. The journal aims to publish papers of the highest quality and significance in all areas related to Cardiology. It covers a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to cardiovascular diseases, diagnostic techniques, imaging, heart failure, therapeutic interventions, and clinical applications.

Over the past year, EC has made significant strides in its development. Manuscript submissions, publications, citations, and article exposure have all shown positive growth. A pivotal milestone was achieved with the journal's inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), a testament to its adherence to open-access standards and its growing recognition within the scientific community. This report highlights the key achievements of 2025 and provides an outlook for 2026.

Key Achievements in 2025

Manuscript Submission and Publication

Increasing Submissions

In 2025, EC received 123 manuscript submissions, marking a 186% increase from the 43 received in 2024. This growth indicates the journal's rising influence and recognition among researchers, likely driven by its high-quality research output, efficient editorial processes, and focus on relevant topics. The submissions comprised 32 Original Articles (26.01%), 32 Review Articles (26.01%), 27 Case Reports (21.95%), and 32 Others (26.01%). The substantial number of Original and Review Articles underscores EC's role as a key platform for sharing new findings, whether through experimental results, theoretical frameworks, or fresh insights into existing issues, thereby promoting innovative research.

Figure 1. Article Types of Submission in 2025                     Figure 2. Number of Submissions per year

Total Publications

Throughout the year, 43 articles were successfully published, a substantial increase from the 25 articles published in 2024. This demonstrates the journal's expanding capacity and ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful content. The publication mix included 10 original articles (23.26%), 12 review articles (27.91%), 14 case reports (32.56%), and 7 others (16.27%), covering a wide range of topics within cardiology and reflecting the journal's comprehensive approach to the field.

Figure 3. Article Types of Publication in 2025            Figure 4. Country Distribution of EC Publication 2025

Authors

The 43 articles published in 2025 featured corresponding authors from 21 countries and regions. The average H-index was 15.7 for corresponding authors and 9.7 for first authors, indicating the publication of high-caliber research with strong academic profiles. Moving forward, EC will continue to attract high-quality manuscripts and collaborate with outstanding authors worldwide to further enrich content diversity and promote global inclusivity.

Journal Article Data Highlights

As of the end of 2025, among the articles published that year, 32 had each achieved more than 1,000 views and over 100 downloads. The average view count per article reached 3,540, with an average of 175.5 downloads. This strong readership engagement and consistent attention reflect the relevance and impact of the journal's content within the academic community.

Table 1. Top3 most downloaded articles in 2025

The total citations for EC articles grew to 122 in 2025, an increase of 108 from the previous year, with an average of 1.07 citations per article. This growth underscores EC's academic value and its active role in advancing cardiovascular research, reaffirming its commitment to high publication standards and scholarly excellence.

Manuscript Processing

Rejection Rate

The rejection rate increased from 25.7% in 2024 to 54.65% in 2025. This upward trend indicates the journal’s stricter manuscript selection process, serving as a positive signal of its commitment to upholding high academic standards.

Manuscript Processing Time

Despite the increased submission volume, the journal continued to enhance its manuscript processing efficiency in 2025. The average initial review time stood at 6.5 days, with a submission-to-acceptance period of approximately 60.2 days—representing a significant improvement compared to the 90 days recorded in 2024. These figures underscore EC’s efficiency and rigor in manuscript handling. We strive to further optimize processing efficiency, deliver an enhanced submission experience for authors, and expedite the dissemination of academic research.

Reviewers

In 2025, 181 experienced reviewers worldwide actively participated in the review process of EC journal, making great contributions to the quality control of journal publication. These experts come from 38 countries around the world, including the United States, China, and Italy et al., dedicated their considerable time and expertise to safeguard the journal’s rigorous academic standards. The average H-index of these reviewers is about 16.7. With the rigorous review by these excellent reviewers, each article will receive an average of 3.4 insightful review reports, reinforcing the journal’s dedication to rigorous, evidence-based quality control.

Figure 5. Country Distribution of EC Reviewers 2025

Editorial Board

New Editorial Board Members in 2025

In 2025, EC added 4 new editorial board members, Their diverse backgrounds enhance the journal's global perspective and academic influence, with an average H-index of 44. 

Figure 6. Newly Joined Editorial Board Members in 2025

Current Editorial Board

By the end of 2025, the Editorial Board of EC consisted of 50 members from 27 countries/regions, including 1 Editor-in-Chief, 8 Associate Editors, and 41 Editorial Board Members, with an impressive average H-index of 57. The board is highly qualified, authoritative, and professional. In 2025, 34 members (69.4%) actively contributed through manuscript submission, special issue organization, or reviewing. This engagement is crucial for the journal's operation and growth. We extend our sincere appreciation to all Editorial Board members for their remarkable contributions in 2025, which are crucial for the positive development of our journal.

Figure 7. Country Distribution of EC Editorial Board

Special Issues

Completed Special Issue (2025)

The special issue "Common cardiovascular target for a wide gamut of contemporary health problems – thrombotic and arrhythmic sides of an inflammatory coin" was a great success in 2025, featuring six articles that collectively garnered over 52000 views, 527 downloads and 4 citations, thereby demonstrating its significant impact and wide-reaching appeal in the field of cardiovascular research, and underscoring the importance of this topic in addressing contemporary health challenges. 

Currently, we sincerely invite researchers to submit their work to our special issues open for submission, which cover a range of cutting-edge topics in cardiovascular science. The average H-index of the guest editors for each special issue is 28, a metric that ensures the rigorous selection and publication of high-quality research. Each special issue provides a unique platform for in-depth exploration of frontier topics. We look forward to receiving your submissions and joining hands to build a solid platform for scientific exchange.

Table 2. Special Issues Open for Submission

Database indexing

A key milestone for EC in 2025 was its inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), which significantly enhanced the journal’s visibility, accessibility, and credibility. This achievement reaffirms the journal’s commitment to high editorial standards and ethical publishing practices. Additionally, EC is indexed in several other reputable databases, including Google Scholar, Dimensions, and Portico, facilitating broader reach across diverse academic communities. Looking ahead, EC aims to further elevate its profile by applying for inclusion in prestigious databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WOS).

Social Media & Promotion

In 2025, EC significantly enhanced its visibility through collaboration with academic conferences. Our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Eugenio Picano, presented and promoted the EC journal at the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) 2025 Congress and the Chinese Society of Echocardiography Meeting. These collaborations provided a platform to showcase the journal's research and academic value, attracting potential authors and readers, thereby effectively raising the journal's profile.

Table 3. Conferences Promotion in 2025

Figure 8. Prof. Eugenio Picano, Editor-in-Chief of EC, promoted the journal at the conference

Goals and Expectation

2025 marked a pivotal period of growth, refinement, and increasing influence for Exploration of Cardiology (EC). Building on this momentum, EC remains committed in 2026 to sustaining stable, high - quality publications and expanding its academic impact. We will strive for steady growth in both submission and publication volumes while ensuring that our portfolio remains diverse and influential.

To further enhance its academic standing, EC will continue to implement rigorous peer - review practices and leverage the expertise of our Editorial Board to select and publish cutting - edge research. Additionally, the journal will launch special issues on emerging and high - interest topics, fostering extensive academic discussion and driving research innovation. EC plans to apply for indexing in authoritative databases such as Scopus to strengthen its international recognition. Furthermore, the journal will expand collaboration channels with academic conferences and institutions to elevate its global influence.

EC sincerely welcomes more collaborators to join us in advancing the journal's high - quality development. Whether you engage as an Editorial Board member, reviewer, or author, your contribution will inject new vitality into EC and expand the depth and breadth of our academic exchange. We believe that collaboration is essential to amplifying our collective impact and driving progress in cardiology. Together, we can create greater opportunities for researchers worldwide and push the frontiers of cardiovascular research and clinical practice.

We are dedicated to promoting scientific excellence, facilitating interdisciplinary cooperation, and building a premier academic platform for the global research community. Let us work together to achieve even greater milestones for EC in 2026.

Best Regards,

EC Editorial Office

Contact us: ecjournal@explorationpub.com

EC website: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ec

Submission Link: https://ec.aressystem.com/

Annual Report 2025 of Exploration of Cardiology.pdf