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Researchers and clinicians searching for the circulation journal or journal of circulation evaluate the scope, impact metrics, open-access fees, or submission rules of leading cardiovascular literature. “Circulation” denotes the flagship journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), while “Circulation Journal” is the English-language monthly published by the Japanese Circulation Society on J-STAGE.
This reference guide clarifies the differences between both publications, detailing editorial leadership, Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR) metrics, the ~8% acceptance rate, ScholarOne submission workflows, and the hybrid open-access model including article processing charges (APCs).
What It Is
The term circulation journal primarily denotes Circulation (ISO abbreviation: Circulation; print ISSN: 0009-7322, online ISSN: 1524-4539), the flagship medical journal published weekly by Wolters Kluwer Health for the American Heart Association (AHA). Founded in January 1950, it publishes original clinical trials, epidemiology, and multi-society clinical practice guidelines across cardiovascular medicine.
What is a circulation journal? Disambiguating the Titles
When searching for “what is a circulation journal” or the “Circulation journal meaning,” researchers encounter two distinct cardiovascular journals alongside a library serials concept:
- Circulation (AHA / Wolters Kluwer): Founded in 1950 in the United States, this weekly publication is the flagship journal of the American Heart Association, focusing on major clinical trials, cardiovascular surgery, and ACC/AHA guidelines.
- Circulation Journal (Japanese Circulation Society / J-STAGE): Founded in 1935 as the Japanese Circulation Journal and renamed Circulation Journal in 2002 (print ISSN: 1346-9843, online ISSN: 1347-4820), this is the official monthly English-language journal of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS), hosted on J-STAGE.
- Library Journal Circulation: In academic library management, “journal circulation” denotes physical checkout records or COUNTER usage statistics (such as JR1/TR_J1 reports) tracking serial readership.
Is Circulation a reputable journal?
Yes. Circulation is among the most prestigious medical journals in the world. As the AHA flagship, it establishes clinical algorithms and CPR/ECC emergency cardiovascular care protocols adopted by global healthcare systems. Submissions undergo rigorous editorial screening and peer review by independent cardiologists and biostatisticians.
Who Runs It and What It Covers
Circulation is published weekly by Wolters Kluwer for the American Heart Association. The journal is led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Bradley A. Maron, who assumed leadership in July 2026, succeeding Dr. Joseph A. Hill.
Scope and Content Focus
The journal considers human clinical investigations, health outcomes research, and translational studies with direct bedside application. Core topical areas include:
- Coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, and interventional cardiology
- Heart failure, cardiomyopathies, rhythm disorders, and mechanical support
- Hypertension, vascular biology, stroke prevention, and cardiovascular imaging
- Cardiovascular epidemiology, disparities, prevention, and ACC/AHA guidelines
Basic science investigations focused exclusively on cellular pathways or animal models lacking clinical translation are redirected to sister journal Circulation Research.
Is Circulation a Q1 journal? Impact Factor and Indexing
Yes, Circulation is a premier Q1 journal. In Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and Web of Science, Circulation consistently ranks in the top quartile of the Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems category. Its journal impact factor is 41.3, placing it among the top two cardiovascular specialty journals worldwide alongside the European Heart Journal.
The journal is indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Embase. The Japanese Circulation Society’s Circulation Journal is also indexed in MEDLINE and SCIE, holding a JCR Q1 ranking with an Impact Factor of approximately 5.8.
What is the acceptance rate of the Circulation journal?
The manuscript acceptance rate for Circulation is approximately 8% to 10%. The editorial team applies a stringent evaluation:
- Desk Rejection: Roughly 70% to 75% of unsolicited manuscripts are declined without external review during preliminary triage.
- First Decision Timeline: The median turnaround time from initial submission to first editorial decision is approximately 17 days.
- Peer Review: Manuscripts advancing past triage receive single-blind evaluations from at least two subject reviewers and a biostatistical editor.
How to Search or Use It
Accessing articles or submitting manuscripts follows standard procedures on Wolters Kluwer and AHA systems.
Finding Articles, Sign-In, and Newsletter Access
The official portal is hosted at ahajournals.org/journal/circ. Readers and subscribers can:
- Search the Archive: Query keywords, author names, or DOIs via the header search tool to retrieve backfiles dating to 1950.
- Sign In (Circulation Journal Login): Access institutional subscriptions or member accounts via the header “Sign In” link using Shibboleth, OpenAthens, or AHA credentials.
- Subscribe to Alerts: Sign up on the homepage for the weekly electronic newsletter delivering new issue notifications and advance publications.
Author Manuscript Submission Workflow (6 Steps)
Authors submitting clinical manuscripts must use the ScholarOne Manuscripts portal:
- Format According to Author Instructions: Ensure the manuscript satisfies structural requirements, including a structured abstract under 250 words.
- Incorporate the Clinical Perspective Box: Provide a mandatory structured box summarizing study findings and direct clinical implications.
- Confirm Trial Registration and Approvals: Prospective clinical trials must be registered in an ICMJE-approved public registry prior to patient enrollment. Note IRB approvals and registration numbers in Methods.
- Submit via ScholarOne: Log in to the AHA ScholarOne portal using ORCID iDs, and upload manuscript files, figures, and appendices.
- Complete Declarations and Data Statements: Submit ICMJE disclosure forms for all authors, identify grant funding, and provide a Data Availability Statement.
- Select Open Access or Subscription Model: Circulation is a hybrid journal. Standard publication under a Copyright Transfer Agreement carries no author fees ($0). Gold open access requires an article processing charge (APC) of roughly $5,400, subject to AHA member discounts and institutional agreements.
Strengths and Limits
Evaluating Circulation reveals clear advantages alongside structural constraints:
- Clinical Authority: High prestige and global readership ensure maximum reach for practice-changing clinical investigations.
- Rapid Assessment: A median first-decision time of ~17 days minimizes delays for declined manuscripts.
- Fee-Free Publication Option: Standard publication under the subscription model has no author-facing charges.
- High Selectivity: With an acceptance rate under 10%, competition is intense.
- Substantial Open-Access Cost: The ~$5,400 APC for Gold open access requires dedicated institutional or grant funding.
- Clinical Focus: Purely mechanistic bench studies without direct translational evidence are routinely declined.
Alternatives and Sibling Publications
Authors evaluating submission targets can compare key parameters across major cardiovascular journals:
| Journal Title | Publisher / Society | JCR Quartile & IF | Primary Scope | Access Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circulation | Wolters Kluwer / AHA (USA) | Q1 (IF ~41.3) | Major clinical trials, clinical cardiology, guidelines, epidemiology | Hybrid (Free CTA / ~$5,400 APC) |
| Circulation Journal | Japanese Circulation Society (Japan) | Q1 (IF ~5.8) | Broad cardiovascular medicine across Asia-Pacific and internationally | Open Access on J-STAGE |
| Circulation Research | Wolters Kluwer / AHA (USA) | Q1 (IF ~14-20) | Basic cardiovascular biology, molecular mechanisms, experimental models | Hybrid |
| Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) | Elsevier / ACC (USA) | Q1 (IF ~24-27) | Clinical cardiovascular medicine, guidelines, catheter interventions | Hybrid |
| European Heart Journal (EHJ) | Oxford University Press / ESC (Europe) | Q1 (IF ~37-39) | ESC flagship; major trials and European clinical practice guidelines | Hybrid |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Circulation a reputable journal?
Yes. Circulation is among the most reputable medical journals worldwide. Published since 1950 by the American Heart Association, it holds an Impact Factor of 41.3, is classified in Q1, and serves as the primary publication venue for official AHA clinical practice guidelines.
What is a circulation journal?
A “circulation journal” denotes either Circulation (the AHA weekly medical flagship published by Wolters Kluwer) or Circulation Journal (the Japanese Circulation Society monthly on J-STAGE). In library science, it denotes serial circulation tracking.
Is Circulation a Q1 journal?
Yes. In Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports and Scopus, Circulation ranks in Quartile 1 (Q1) for Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems, placing within the top 2% of cardiology journals globally. The Japanese Circulation Society’s Circulation Journal is likewise a Q1 journal in cardiology.
What is the acceptance rate of the Circulation journal?
The manuscript acceptance rate of Circulation is approximately 8% to 10%. Around 70% to 75% of unsolicited papers are declined during editorial desk triage. The median turnaround time for a first decision is approximately 17 days.
What is the Circulation Journal APC for open access?
Circulation operates under a hybrid publishing model. Authors publishing under standard subscription terms pay $0 in author fees. Authors selecting Gold Open Access pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) of roughly $5,400, with discounts available for AHA members and qualifying institutional agreements.
What is the official abbreviation for Circulation?
Under ISO 4 and MEDLINE standards, the abbreviation for the American Heart Association journal is Circulation. For the Japanese Circulation Society publication, the MEDLINE abbreviation is Circ J.
Sources
- National Library of Medicine (NLM) Catalog: Circulation (NLM ID: 0147763, ISSN: 0009-7322 / 1524-4539), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins / American Heart Association. Accessed November 8, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/0147763
- National Library of Medicine (NLM) Catalog: Circulation Journal (NLM ID: 101137683, ISSN: 1346-9843 / 1347-4820), Japanese Circulation Society. Accessed November 8, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/101137683
- American Heart Association / Wolters Kluwer: Circulation Official Journal & Author Instructions Portal. Accessed November 8, 2026. https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ
- J-STAGE (Japan Science and Technology Agency): Circulation Journal, The Japanese Circulation Society. Accessed November 8, 2026. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/circj
