title: Endometriosis and its global research architecture: an in-depth density-equalizing mapping analysis.
abstract: Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases. It is still a chameleon in many aspects and urges intense research activities in the fields of diagnosis, therapy and prevention. Despite the need to foster research in this area, no in-depth analysis of the global architecture of endometriosis research exists yet.
  
  
  
  We here used the NewQIS platform to conduct a density equalizing mapping study, using the Web of Science as database with endometriosis related entries between 1900 and 2009. Density equalizing maps of global endometriosis research encompassing country-specific publication activities, and semi-qualitative indices such as country specific citations, citation rates, h-Indices were created.
  
  
  
  In total, 11,056 entries related to endometriosis were found. The USA was leading the field with 3705 publications followed by the United Kingdom (952) and Japan (846). Concerning overall citations and country-specific h-Indices, the USA again was the leading nation with 74,592 citations and a modified h-Index of 103, followed by the UK with 15,175 citations (h-Index 57). Regarding the citation rate, Sweden and Belgium were at top positions with rates of 22.46 and 22.26, respectively. Concerning collaborative studies, there was a steep increase in numbers present; analysis of the chronological evolution indicated a strong increase in international collaborations in the past 10 years.
  
  
  
  This study is the first analysis that illustrates the global endometriosis research architecture. It shows that endometriosis research is constantly gaining importance but also underlines the need for further efforts and investments to foster research and ultimately improve endometriosis management on a global scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave, IRD 509, Los Angeles, 90089-9300, CA, USA. doerthe.brueggmann@med.usc.edu.|Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. doerthe.brueggmann@med.usc.edu.
authors.forename: Dörthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brüggmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elizabeth-Martinez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klingelhöfer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quarcoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave, IRD 509, Los Angeles, 90089-9300, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jenny M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jaque
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Groneberg
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004715:Endometriosis; D005260:Female; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011156:Population Density
keywords: Density equalizing; Endometriosis; Mapping; Research architecture