[Which language will MEDLINE speak in the next millennium?].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the trends in the prevalence of the languages used in Medline, since its creation up to the present time, for the overall indexed articles in this database and those specifically related to the field of Urology. The results are extrapolated to determine the trend over the next 15 years.


METHODS
The Pubmed page on Internet (http:www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/nlm. html) and the Medline database (OldMedline 1960-1965 and current Medline 1966-1999) were accessed to determine the total number of indexed articles and the distribution by year, language and country. The same method was applied for articles specifically pertaining to the field of Urology.


RESULTS
Overall, English accounts for 75% of the nearly 10 million articles indexed in Medline since its creation. The prevalence of the English language has grown steadily since 1966 when it already accounted for 53% of these indexed articles up to 89% in 1999, for a yearly increase of 1%. Similar results were found for the articles specifically pertaining to the field of Urology. The number of the indexed articles in the English language has grown to almost 400% since 1966, whereas those written in other languages have dropped by 40%. In some countries like Holland, Germany or Japan, most of the articles are published in English.


CONCLUSIONS
If the current trend continues, all the articles indexed in the Medline database will comprise only those written in the English language by 2014.
Sousa Escandón
M A
MA
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Comarcal de Monforte, Lugo.
González Guitián
C
C
González Fernández
M M
MM
D005544:Forecasting; D007802:Language; D016239:MEDLINE / Q000639:trends*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014572:Urology