Congenital heart disease research landscape in the Arab world: a 25-year bibliometric review

Fouad Bitar; Mariam Arabi; Ziad Bulbul; Georges Nemer; Yehya Jassar; Fadi F Bitar; Zahi Abdul Sater

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1332291

Congenital heart disease research landscape in the Arab world: a 25-year bibliometric review

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Jan 11:10:1332291. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1332291. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fouad Bitar¹, Mariam Arabi^{1

2}, Ziad Bulbul^{1

2}, Georges Nemer³, Yehya Jassar², Fadi F Bitar^{1

2}, Zahi Abdul Sater^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Children's Heart Center, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
³ Genomics and Precision Medicine (GPM), College of Health and Life Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Phoenicia University, Mazraat El Daoudiyeh, Lebanon.
⁵ Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Abstract

Background: While research on congenital heart disease has been extensively conducted worldwide, comprehensive studies from developing countries and the Arab world remain scarce.

Aim: This study aims to perform a bibliometric review of research on congenital heart disease in the Arab world from 1997 to 2022.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Web of Science, encompassing various aspects such as topics, countries, research output, citations, authors, collaborations, and affiliations. This comprehensive science mapping analysis was done using the R statistical software's Bibliometrix Package.

Results: The research output from Arab countries over the 25 years showed an average annual growth rate of 11.5%. However, Arab countries exhibited lower research productivity than the United States and Europe, with a 24-fold difference. There was substantial variation in research output among 22 Arab countries, with five countries contributing to 78% of the total publications. Most of the published research was clinical, with limited innovative contributions and a preference for regional journals. High-income Arab countries displayed higher research productivity and citation rates than their low-income developing counterparts. Despite being categorized as upper-middle-income, post-conflict countries exhibited low research productivity. About one-quarter of the published articles (26%) resulted from collaborative efforts among multiple countries, with the United States being the most frequent collaborator. Enhanced research productivity and impact output were strongly associated with increased international cooperation.

Conclusion: Research productivity in the Arab region closely correlates with a country's GDP. Success hinges on governmental support, funding, international collaboration, and a clear research vision. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, educational institutions, and governments to strengthen research programs and nurture a research culture.

Keywords: Arab countries; children; congenital heart disease; developing and developed countries; limited resource countries; pediatric cardiology; research.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.