Insuficiencia Cardiaca is committed to providing a rigorous yet efficient editorial process. Under normal conditions, the time from initial submission to online publication is approximately 4 months. This period can be broken down into the following stages:
1. Initial Editorial and Technical Check (1–2 weeks)
After submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor. During this stage, we verify:
alignment with the journal’s aims and scope in cardiology and cardiovascular medicine,
compliance with formatting and ethical requirements, and
basic scientific suitability for external peer review.
Manuscripts that do not meet these minimum criteria may be returned to the authors for correction or may be rejected without external review. For manuscripts proceeding to review, this first step typically takes about 1–2 weeks.
2. External Peer Review (4–6 weeks)
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field. Following our single-blind policy, reviewers are aware of the authors’ identity, but authors do not know the reviewers’ identities. Reviewers are normally given 3–4 weeks to complete their report, and some additional time is required for reviewer invitation, acceptance, and coordination. As a result, the external peer review phase usually takes around 4–6 weeks from assignment to receipt of the necessary reports.
3. First Decision and Author Revision (4–6 weeks)
Based on the reviewers’ reports and the editor’s assessment, authors receive a first decision (accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject).
For minor revisions, authors are generally asked to resubmit a revised version within 2–3 weeks.
For major revisions, a longer period of up to 4 weeks may be allowed.
Authors are requested to provide a detailed, point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments. The revised manuscript may be assessed by the handling editor alone or, in the case of substantial changes, sent back to one or more reviewers. The combination of decision, revision by the authors, and reassessment typically takes about 4–6 weeks, depending on the extent of the revisions.
4. Final Decision and Acceptance (1–2 weeks)
Once the revised version has been evaluated, the handling editor makes a final recommendation, which is confirmed by the Editor-in-Chief when appropriate. The final decision (acceptance, further revision, or rejection) is usually communicated within 1–2 weeks after receipt of the revised manuscript, provided that no additional external reviews are needed.
5. Copy-Editing, Typesetting, and Online Publication (3–4 weeks)
Accepted manuscripts then enter the production stage, which includes:
language and style editing,
layout and typesetting according to the journal’s format,
generation of proofs and author proof-checking (limited to minor corrections), and
assignment to the corresponding annual volume and online posting.
This production phase generally takes about 3–4 weeks, after which the article is published online in our continuous publication model.
Overall Time Frame
While individual cases may vary depending on the complexity of the manuscript, reviewer availability, and the extent of revisions, Insuficiencia Cardiaca aims to complete the full process — from submission to online publication — within approximately 4 months, maintaining both timeliness and high standards of scientific and editorial quality.