Cardiovascular disease research activity in the Middle East: a bibliometric analysis.

Overview

OBJECTIVES: The Middle East has a high prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases. The objective of this article was to quantify the research activity in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Middle East over the last 10 years. METHODS: A Medline search was conducted using medical subject headings and author affiliation to retrieve research articles published from the Middle East between 2003 and 2012 (inclusive). RESULTS: Middle Eastern countries produced only 3% of the total number of CVD research articles in the world. However, the overall trend showed an increase in the number of articles over the years, mainly from Turkey and Iran. Within this region, the ratio of CVD to non-CVD publications was highest in Qatar (0.23). Lebanon ranked first in the number of CVD publications per million persons (PMP) averaging 194.2 publications PMP and Turkey ranked highest in the number of CVD publications per US$1000 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita averaging 954 CVD publications per US$1000 GDP per capita. CONCLUSIONS: Although there has been a drive towards greater publication of CVD papers in the last decade, research activity in the Middle East still lags behinds developed countries. Greater productivity is anticipated to emerge to accompany the recent significant investment in research in Gulf countries.