EURObservational Research Programme: a bibliometric assessment of its scientific output

Given the lack of reliable observational data, a network of volunteer centres, and standardized methodological procedures, the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) was set up to provide a better understanding of real-world cardiovascular care and outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the scientific impact of EORP using a bibliometric approach.

We collected data for each individual publication and for each individual journal with at least one EORP publication. Bibliometric indicators evaluating research performance were categorized into those evaluating EORP publications (publication-based indicators) and those assessing the journals where those papers were published (journal-based indicators). During the first ∼11 years since its inception, we found that EORP produced 189 publications, with most published in journals in the first quartile (60.9%) or the second quartile (33.5%) of the Web of Science Journal Citation Report. The total number of citations to EORP publications was 9630 (average citation per publication of 51, h-index of 54, and 29 EORP publications with ≥100 citations). Of EORP publications, 20 had an Altmetric Attention Score >50 and 9 had a score >100. A total of 52 EORP papers have been cited 65 times in ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines between 2013 and 2021.

EORP registries have contributed to impactful scientific knowledge. The high-quality metrics highlight the relevance of the EORP international cardiovascular registries to the academic community. Efforts are needed to support this, and other programmes aimed at delivering real-world evidence from independent patient data of cardiovascular care and outcomes across multiple geographies.