Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Research: A Scientometric Analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate sex-specific differences in authorship of cardiovascular research over the past decade. METHODS AND RESULTS: All 387 463 cardiovascular publications between 2010 and 2019 were retrieved from Web of Science. Articles increased from 19 960 to 29 604 articles per year (P>0.001). The number of articles written by female first authors increased by 76.3% (6434–11 343 articles) and by 35.0% for male first authors (13 526–18 261) (P<0.001). The first author was more likely to be a female author in articles with female last authors. The median impact factor (IF) for articles by female first authors was lower (2.46 [interquartile range, 7 1.11– 4.03] versus 2.51 [interquartile range, 1.17– 4.10]; P<0.001). Female authorship articles reached the highest IF in North America (average IF, 3.7), with the lowest in Africa (average IF, 1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Publications in cardiovascular research have increased over the past decade, particularly by female authors. Female researchers are cited less often compared with their male peers. The IF remains lower for articles by female researchers.