A Bibliometric Analysis of Geographic Publication Variations in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia From 1990 to 2011

Abstract

The bibliometrics of the anesthesiology literature has shifted substantially during the past 3 decades. The present authors analyzed the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (JCVA) at selected time intervals from 1990 to 2011 to quantify temporal variations in geographic publication patterns. The authors also determined whether previously described reductions in North American research productivity were accompanied by similar decreases in the number of other forms of publication in JCVA. An observational study. Internet analysis. None. The number of research articles, case reports and conferences, review articles, and letters in each issue of the journal were quantified in each of 4 time intervals consisting of consecutive 4-year periods (1990-1993, 1996-1999, 2002-2005, and 2008-2011). Forty-three countries published a total of 2,587 articles (ie, 1,141 research articles, 735 case reports, 175 review articles, and 536 letters) during the 4 time periods examined. Progressive decreases in the percentage of research articles, case reports, and letters, but not review articles, from North America were observed over time. Significant increases in the percentage of research articles and letters contributed by European authors in 2008 to 2011 were observed compared with 1990 to 1993. The percentage of all publications from the Middle East and Australasia increased significantly, whereas South America and Africa were relatively minor contributors to JCVA throughout the study period. The present bibliometric analysis indicates that JCVA has changed from a journal that primarily published work from countries in North America and Europe to one in which the Middle East and Australasia now make a substantial number of contributions. These results suggest that JCVA has evolved into a truly international journal since its inception in 1987.