[Spanish scientific production in the cardiovascular area through Science Citation Index (1990-1996)]

A bibliometric analysis of the Spanish scientific production in the Cardiovascular research area constitutes a useful approach to the study of the scientific activity conducted in the field. The most relevant aspects of the research and their evolution over time are analysed.

Publications covered by the Science Citation Index database under the heading "cardiovascular system" during the years 1990-1996 and signed by at least one Spanish address were studied. The distribution of the scientific production by geographic areas and institutional sectors was analysed and the most productive centers were identified.

During these years, the scientific production in Cardiovascular research showed a growing rate of 83%, slightly lower than that of Biomedicine in Spain. A total of 1,434 documents were analysed (3% of the biomedical production), with 24% of meeting-abstracts. Although the production was concentrated in Madrid (33%) and Cataluña (30%), Cantabria and Navarra emerged when the values were normalised according to either R&D expenditures or population data. The most productive institutional sectors were Hospitals (86%) and Universities (22%). The most productive centres were identified, as well as their growth rate, their activity index and the average impact factor of the journals used. More than 50% of the documents were performed in collaboration among different centres. International collaboration showed an upward trend (from 16% to 21%).

Spanish Cardiovascular research showed an increasing international visibility over the studied period, as shown by the growing number of publications in the Science Citation Index database, the up-rising trend towards high-impact-factor journals, and the ever-growing collaboration of Spanish authors with foreign partners.