The Highly Cited Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Articles of Cardiac And Cardiovascular Systems: A Scientometric Study Based on Web of Science

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been placed at the summit of the evidence pyramid in the evidence-based medicine paradigm. Scientometric investigation can provide useful insight into the field's scholarly communications. Therefore, this study is an attempt to scientometric study of the highly cited systematic reviews and meta-analysis articles of cardiac and cardiovascular systems category based on Web of Science.

The study focused on those highly cited articles that were retrieved from Web of Science between July 20th and July 27th, 2019. After multiple phases of screening the retrieved articles, 150 articles formed the current research population. A number of articles in systematic review and meta-analysis, the publication trend, the status of authors' countries, authors’ affiliation, and the publication sources of the articles were examined.

Meta-analysis articles account for 52% of the research population. The largest share of the highly cited papers were for 2018. The results showed 61.3% of the studies conducted by international cooperation. The largest number of the studies have been conducted by researchers of USA, England, Netherland and Canada. The largest number of the articles published in American College of Cardiology, and European Heart Journal. The majority of the highly cited articles (79.33%) published in Q1 journals.

The publication of the highly cited articles has benefited greatly from international collaboration. Researchers from of the United States, the Netherlands, England and Canada significantly contributed to the articles' production. The highly cited papers have been published in the most prestigious journals.