Opinion
EDITORIAL
JAMA Cardiology—The Year in Review, 2023
Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS
JAMA Cardiology completed another successful year in 2023
in which we maintained our position among the top journals
in the field of cardiovascular medicine. After 8 years of pub-
lishing, JAMA Cardiology’s journal impact factor was 24.0 in
2023 (reported for the year
Related article
2022). Our weekly content of
original research, review ar-
ticles, and opinion pieces covered the breadth of cardiology.
The continuous flow of manuscripts submitted to our journal
for the year amounted to 2204 submissions, including 1641
original research manuscripts (Table1-9). Our acceptance rate
of 10% (6% for original research submissions) is in keeping
with that of other top-tier cardiovascular journals. We have
also maintained our position as a global journal with 62% of
our submissions in 2023 from outside the US.
The level of research that we discuss at our weekly edi-
tors’ meeting is remarkable, with an ever-increasing number
related to artificial intelligence, genetics, clonal hematopoi-
esis, maternal health, and cardiometabolic disorders. These
topics, added to coverage of clinical topics related to cardio-
vascular disease prevention and the diagnosis and treatment
of hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhyth-
mias, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathies, result in
a well-rounded publication portfolio. In 2023, we published
43 randomized clinical trials and prespecified substudies of
major clinical trials.
Our weekly online content is now delivered to more than
106 000 readers, with 4.4 million annual article views and
downloads. Our monthly podcast discussions with authors re-
main highly popular. The close linkage of this journal to JAMA
and the other JAMA Network journals connects us to the dedi-
cated editorial and publication staff who facilitate the dissemi-
nation of our weekly and monthly content through many chan-
nels. Our content continues to attract considerable attention
in social media and by the news media, and articles pub-
lished in JAMA Cardiology in 2023 received mention in more
than 900 news reports.
In the past year, we have added 2 new thematic series:
Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology and Social Determinants
of Health. We encourage authors to submit articles in these
categories, and we have joined with JAMA and the other
JAMA Network journals in calling for manuscripts addressing
Health and the 2024 US election10 and climate change and
health.11 Our Deputy Editor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclu-
sion, Ann Marie Navar, and I have contributed with the other
editors of the JAMA Network in publishing an Editorial de-
scribing the self-reported demographic characteristics of
editors and editorial board members throughout JAMA and the
JAMA Network.12 We also published the self-reported demo-
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graphic characteristics among the editors and editorial board
members of JAMA Cardiology.
While it is not possible at this time to identify those ar-
ticles published in 2023 that will have the greatest ultimate im-
pact, we are able to report those that have achieved the great-
est attention in terms of views and downloads, Altmetric scores
(measures of news and social media coverage), and number of
citations (Table). All 3 articles with the greatest number of views
and downloads were novel clinical trial substudies addressing
drug treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection frac-
tion (HFpEF). Ledwidge et al1 reported the effects of sacubitril/
valsartan vs valsartan alone on left atrial volume in patients
enrolled in the Personalized Prospective Comparison of ARNI
[angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor] With ARB [angio-
tensin-receptor blocker] in Patients With Natriuretic Peptide
Elevation (PARABLE) Trial. Eligible individuals for this study
were asymptomatic patients with hypertension or type 2 dia-
betes and both elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or
N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) and left atrial
(LA) dilation by echocardiography. The authors deemed these
patients to have a pre-HFpEF phenotype. Sacubitril/valsartan
treatment was associated with a greater increase in LA volume
index measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging than
valsartan but also with lower estimated LA pressure and greater
reduction in NT-proBNP. Sacubitril/valsartan was also associ-
ated with a lower rate of major adverse cardiac events, includ-
ing heart failure (HF) hospitalization.
The effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2)
inhibitor therapy in HFpEF were reported in 2 studies. In a
prespecified substudy of the Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Im-
prove the Lives of Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Heart Failure (DELIVER) Trial, Jhund et al2 reported that
dapagliflozin reduced the rate of total HF events (first and sub-
sequent HF hospitalizations and urgent HF visits) and cardio-
vascular death. In a post hoc analysis of the Empagliflozin
Outcome Trial in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure with
Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved Trial),
Butler et al3 reported that the beneficial effects of empagli-
flozin in improving cardiovascular outcomes in patients with
HFpEF were similar regardless of concomitant diuretic use
or dose (although empagliflozin use was associated with de-
creased diuretic dosing).
The 2023 article with highest Altmetric score was a Re-
search Letter by Assadourian et al4 addressing the spectrum
of health claims on the labels of fish oil supplements and
the variable total daily doses of eicosapentaenoic acid and
docosahexaenoic acid in commonly available fish oil supple-
ments. Turecamo et al 5 examined whether rurality was
associated with increased risk of HF and whether rurality-
(Reprinted) JAMA Cardiology May 2024 Volume 9, Number 5 415
 Opinion Editorial
Table. JAMA Cardiology Statistics for 2023
Characteristica
Manuscript data
All manuscripts received
Research manuscripts receivedb
Acceptance rate, %
Overall
Research
Receipt to first decision without peer review, median, d
Receipt to first decision with peer review, median, d
Peer reviewer turnaround, median, d
Acceptance to publication, median, d
Receipt to publication, median, d
2023 Journal impact factor
Information dissemination data
Recipients of electronic table of contents per wk
Views/downloads per y
Media mentions
Top 3 articles by views/downloadsc
1. Ledwidge et al.1 “Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan vs Valsartan
on Left Atrial Volume in Patients With Pre–Heart Failure With
Preserved Ejection Fraction: The PARABLE Randomized
Clinical Trial”
2. Jhund et al.2 “Effect of Dapagliflozin on Total Heart Failure
Events in Patients With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or
Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Prespecified Analysis of the
DELIVER Trial”
3. Butler et al.3 “Safety and Efficacy of Empagliflozin and
Diuretic Use in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved
Ejection Fraction: A Post Hoc Analysis of the
EMPEROR-Preserved Trial”
Top 3 articles by Altmetric scorec
1. Assadourian et al.4 “Health Claims and Doses of Fish Oil
Supplements in the US”
2. Turecamo et al.5 “Association of Rurality With Risk of
Heart Failure”
3. Lampert et al.6 “Vigorous Exercise in Patients With
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy”
c
Top 3 articles by Web of Science citations
1. Infeld et al.7 “Effect of Personalized Accelerated Pacing
on Quality of Life, Physical Activity, and Atrial Fibrillation
in Patients With Preclinical and Overt Heart Failure With
Preserved Ejection Fraction: The myPACE Randomized
Clinical Trial”
2. Kirtane et al.8 “Patient-Level Pooled Analysis of Ultrasound
Renal Denervation in the Sham-Controlled RADIANCE II,
RADIANCE-HTN SOLO, and RADIANCE-HTN TRIO Trials”
3. Pierce et al.9 “Contemporary Use of Sodium-Glucose
Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Therapy Among Patients
Hospitalized for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
in the US: The Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure Registry”
a
Data based on all manuscripts submitted, including research, review and
education, opinion, and letters.
b
Includes Original Investigations, Brief Reports, and Research Letters.
c
Metrics current as of February 14, 2024.
associated risk varied by race and sex among predominantly
low-income individuals in the southeastern US. They re-
ported that rurality was associated with an increased risk of
HF among women and Black men that persisted after adjust-
ment for cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic sta-
tus. Lampert et al6 reported the results of the multicenter LIVE
Consortium, which investigated whether vigorous exercise is
416 JAMA Cardiology May 2024 Volume 9, Number 5 (Reprinted)
© 2024 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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associated with risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden car-
diac death in asymptomatic individuals with hypertrophic
Result cardiomyopathy. This cohort study, involving 1660 participants,
did not find that vigorous exercise, including participation in
2204 competitive varsity sports, was associated with heightened
1750 risk. This carries important implications for physicians regard-
ing physical activity and, importantly, reassurance for patients
10% with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and their families.
6% The 2023 article with the highest number of citations in
10 the Web of Science was the myPACE randomized clinical
60 trial, reported by Infeld et al.7 This trial enrolled patients with
14 HFpEF and indwelling pacemakers who were randomized to
61
a moderately accelerated pacing rate (75-80 bpm) vs usual care
(median pacing rate of 65 bpm). After 1 year, accelerated pac-
148
ing led to improvement in quality of life scores, which wors-
24
ened in the usual care group. NT-proBNP also decreased in the
accelerated pacing arm, whereas it increased in the usual care
106 546
arm. These data add further support that, unlike HF with re-
4.4
Million duced ejection fraction, patients with HFpEF may benefit with
916 therapies that do not lower heart rate.
Another study with notable citations addressed renal de-
30 724
nervation therapy using ultrasound in patients with hyper-
tension. Kirtane et al8 reported a pooled patient-level analy-
sis of 3 trials with similar designs (sham controls), standardized
26 820 operational implementation (medication standardization and
blinding of both patients and physicians to treatment assign-
ment), and follow-up. The results indicated that ultrasound-
25 593 based renal denervation was consistent across ranges of hy-
pertension severity in reducing daytime ambulatory systolic
blood pressure at 2 months compared to the sham control.
A third highly cited article by Pierce et al9 reported the con-
603 temporary use of SGLT2 inhibitors in 49 399 hospitalized pa-
tients with HF with reduced ejection fraction enrolled in the
532 national Get With the Guidelines–HF registry. Overall, 9988
461
patients (20.2%) were prescribed an SGLT2 inhibitor at hos-
pital discharge, and this was less likely in those with chronic
kidney disease but more likely in those with type 2 diabetes.
25 This low uptake of SGLT2 inhibitors, even in the setting of
a quality improvement registry, is indicative of the need to
overcome implementation barriers limiting the use of SGLT2
inhibitors among patients with HF.
19
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank
the journal’s deputy and associate editors whose committed
16 efforts on top of very busy careers have resulted in sustained
productivity. Our editorial team spends countless hours cri-
tiquing manuscripts, communicating with authors and re-
viewers, and collectively making the editorial decisions that
create our weekly content. The team also provides the strate-
gic vision and direction of JAMA Cardiology. Thanks also to
Julia Getts, our editorial manager, and the dedicated staff of the
JAMA Network, whose talents, commitment, and attention to
detail are essential for the smooth running of the journal,
On behalf of the editors, I once again sincerely thank the
hundreds of our colleagues who have served as peer review-
ers in 2023.13 We are grateful for the knowledge and insights
our reviewers provide to enhance the analytic methods, data
presentation, and take home messages of our manuscripts. We
recognize the voluntary time and effort required for effective
jamacardiology.com
 Editorial Opinion

peer review. Peer review remains a truly essential compo-
nent of manuscript evaluation to guide editors in selecting
those worthy of publication, and it is greatly appreciated. In-
sightful reviewers are often invited to author commentaries
and editorials to enhance the interpretation of original re-
search for our readers and to place the findings in context with
current and future trends in the field.
Finally, we must also thank our authors who have found
a home in JAMA Cardiology. Their contributions of original sci-
ence, scholarly reviews, Viewpoints, Editorials, and Invited
Commentaries remain the foundation of the journal. It is their
work that has fueled the trajectory that JAMA Cardiology
has followed for the past several years and has positioned us
among the premier cardiovascular journals.

ARTICLE INFORMATION
Author Affiliations: Editor, JAMA Cardiology;
Northwestern University Feinberg School of
Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
Corresponding Author: Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS,
JAMA Cardiology, Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N St Clair St,
Ste 600, Chicago, IL 60611
(Robert.Bonow@nm.org).
Published Online: March 20, 2024.
doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0340
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
REFERENCES
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ejection fraction: the PARABLE randomized clinical
trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(4):366-375.
doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.0065
2. Jhund PS, Claggett BL, Talebi A, et al. Effect of
dapagliflozin on total heart failure events in
patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or
preserved ejection fraction: a prespecified analysis
of the DELIVER trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(6):
554-563. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.0711
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patients with heart failure and preserved
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