Academic Output of Anesthesiology Departments in Canada From 2014 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis Study

Anesthesia research is essential for advancing clinical practice and patient care. The purpose of this study was to analyze research productivity in Canadian anesthesiology departments from 2014 to 2023, focusing on trends in publication volume, methodology, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bibliometric analysis was conducted following a pre-registered protocol to identify articles in the PubMed database, which were published between 2014 and 2023 (inclusive) with corresponding authors from Canadian anesthesiology departments. Data extracted for each article included the year of publication, journal, and study design. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to compare trends, while annual publication rates were assessed with linear regression. An interaction term captured differences between pre-pandemic (2014-2020) and post-pandemic (2021-2023) periods. A total of 3,490 articles met the inclusion criteria. From 2014 to 2020 (pre-pandemic period), publication volume increased significantly by 28.7 studies/year (95% CI: 19.2-38.2, p < 0.001). In contrast, 2021-2023 (post-pandemic period) showed a non-significant decline of 13.0 studies/year (95% CI: -48.6-22.6, p = 0.405). Pre-pandemic trends showed significant growth in reviews, case-control/cohort studies, and surveys, while publication rates declined across most categories after 2020. Our findings illustrate an increase in research productivity among Canadian anesthesiology departments from 2014 to 2020, followed by a plateau in publication volume after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This stagnation highlights a critical area for future exploration, including examining how pandemic-related factors, such as shifts in clinical priorities, resource allocation, and adoption of telemedicine in pre-operative clinics, have influenced research productivity. As the field of anesthesiology adapts to post-pandemic realities, ongoing bibliometric studies will be essential to monitor these trends and guide the trajectory of Canadian anesthesia research amid emerging clinical challenges and evolving academic priorities.