[Spanish scientific publications on hepatitis C virus. A Medline study (1980-2002)].
BACKGROUND
To analyze the scientific publications on hepatitis C virus infection from Spanish hospitals between 1980 and 2002.


METHODS
Articles published from January 1980 to December 2002 and contained in the Medline database were selected using the following key words: "Hepatitis C" [MeSH] AND ((Spain [AD] OR Espana [AD] OR Spanien [AD] OR Espagne [AD] OR Espanha [AD]) OR (Spanish [LA]) OR Spain)). Geographical and institutional distribution, national or international publication, subject matter of the article, and date of publication were recorded. Bibliometric indicators of output and impact were estimated.


RESULTS
A total of 1.051 articles were studied, of which 346 were excluded. The number of articles published increased from 0 in 1980 to 121 in 1998 and decreased to 36 in 2002. More articles were published in international journals than in Spanish journals (59.2% versus 40.8%). The main topic was epidemiology (28.6%) in the first decade and treatment (20.2%) in the second. Original articles were the most common type of article (80.5%). The centers with the greatest output were Hospital Clinic in Barcelona (11.6%), Vall d'Hebron Hospital (8.9%) in Barcelona and Fundación Jiménez Díaz in Madrid (8.9%). The mean impact factor increased linearly from 0 in 1980 to 3 in 2002.


CONCLUSIONS
The number and impact factor of scientific publications on hepatitis C virus by Spanish authors has grown significantly during the last 2 decades.
Trapero Marugán
M
M
Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
Pérez Gisbert
J
J
Pajares García
J M
JM
Moreno Otero
R
R
D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology