Trends in Pleural Effusion Research

Abstract

Background: Research in pleural diseases has traditionally been neglected but is now growing. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze scientific research trends on pleural effusions over the last decades. Method: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of the Scopus database from its inception to March 2016, searching for original articles and reviews on “pleural effusion” (key word). Journal, year of publication, number of citations, authors and their affiliations, and the Hirsch (H)-index for some of these variables were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 15 982 documents were retrieved, of which half have been published in the last 18 years and a quarter during the last 8 years. Chest ranked first regarding the number of documents on pleural effusions (both absolute number and yearly rate) and their scientific relevance (H-index of 76). The United States had contributed the most to pleural research productivity (23%). American pulmonologists Dr Richard Light and Dr Steven Sahn exhibited the highest number of papers (206 and 156, respectively) and author H-indexes (44 and 38, respectively). Conclusion: There is growing research activity in the field of pleural effusions, which has gained relevance and visibility in clinical respiratory journals. The United States is the leader in quantity and quality of research productivity in pleural medicine.