title: [A retrospective analysis of research articles on the major chronic diseases in China, from 1990 to 2009].
abstract: To review the findings on major chronic diseases in Chinese literature, articles published between 1990 and 2009 were systematically collected. Bibliometric method was used to describe the research number, research topics, methods used, research problems and authors' affiliations. 20 662 articles in Chinese and 5219 articles in English languages were included, showing the number of research papers was increasing every year. More than half of the papers were focusing on tumors while less was on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Descriptive methods were often used and papers were mainly related to clinical characteristics and treatment. Most of the authors were from medical institutions. The research topics on major chronic diseases had an uneven distribution on the classification of diseases and on the problems. There was some inappropriateness on research design regarding the etiology and treatment. Topics related to disease burden and methodology called for further attention and improvement in the future.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Li-ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D002681:China; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies