[Spanish scientific publications on hepatitis C virus. A Medline study (1980-2002)]

To analyze the scientific publications on hepatitis C virus infection from Spanish hospitals between 1980 and 2002.

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.

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.

The number and impact factor of scientific publications on hepatitis C virus by Spanish authors has grown significantly during the last 2 decades.