Evolution of Spanish scientific production in international respiratory system journals from 1987 to 1998

BACKGROUND: A relevant increase in the clinical relevance of respiratory sy stem area has occurred in the last few years. The aims of this study were: to analyze the evolution of production and impact of Spanish scientific act ivity in the respiratory system area between 1987 to 1998; and to assess th e participation of the different Spanish autonomic communities in this acti vity. METHODS: Papers published in 38 international journals of respiratory syste m during this period of time were selected by the MedLine system, delimitin g Spanish production. Geographical and institutional distribution of the pr oduction, specialist of authors, main publication journals and type of publ ication were recorded. Production and impact bibliometric indicators were e stimated. RESULTS: The number of Spanish documents from 1987 to 1998 multiplied by ei ght, reaching the 1.49% of the total published documents in 1998. However, the growth model of scientific production during this period was lineal. Th e increase in the scientific production was associated with a increase over time in the expected impact factor. In 1998, expected impact factor was 2. 206. Forty-two percent of the papers were signed by pneumologists. The high est contributor were hospitals. The most productive autonomous communities were Catalonia, Cantabria and Madrid. The communities with the highest expe cted impact factor were Balears and Catalonia CONCLUSIONS: A relevant increase has occurred in the scientific production and impact of Spanish biomedical activity in respiratory system area.