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Article

Epidemiology of systematic reviews in imaging journals: evaluation of publication trends and sustainability?

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Citation

Alabousi M, Alabousi A, McGrath TA, Cobey KD, Budhram B, Frank RA, Nguyen F, Salameh J, Sharifabadi AD & McInnes MDF (2019) Epidemiology of systematic reviews in imaging journals: evaluation of publication trends and sustainability?. European Radiology, 29 (2), pp. 517-526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5567-z

Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiology of systematic reviews (SRs) published in imaging journals. Methods: A MEDLINE search identified SRs published in imaging journals from 1 January 2000¨C31 December 2016. Articles retrieved were screened against inclusion criteria. Demographic and methodological characteristics were extracted from studies. Temporal trends were evaluated using linear regression and Pearson¡¯s correlation coefficients. Results: 921 SRs were included that reported on 27,435 primary studies, 85,276,484 patients and were cited 26,961 times. The SR publication rate increased 23-fold (r=0.92, p < 0.001) while the proportion of SRs to non-SRs increased 13-fold (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) from 2000 (0.10%) to 2016 (1.33%). Diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) SRs were most frequent (46.5%) followed by therapeutic SRs (16.6%). Most SRs did not report funding status (54.2%). The median author team size was five; this increased over time (r=0.20, p < 0.001). Of the studies, 67.3% included an imaging specialist co-author; this decreased over time (r=-0.57, p=0.017). Most SRs included a meta-analysis (69.6%). Journal impact factor positively correlated with SR publication rates (r=0.54, p < 0.001). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ¡®vascular and interventional radiology¡¯ were the most frequently studied imaging modality and subspecialty, respectively. The USA, UK, China, Netherlands and Canada were the top five publishing countries. Conclusions: The SR publication rate is increasing rapidly compared with the rate of growth of non-SRs; however, they still make up just over 1% of all studies. Authors, reviewers and editors should be aware of methodological and reporting standards specific to imaging systematic reviews including those for DTA and individual patient data. Key Points: ? Systematic review publication rate has increased 23-fold from 2000¨C2016. ? The proportion of systematic reviews to non-systematic reviews has increased 13-fold. ? The USA, UK and China are the most frequent published countries; those from the USA and China are increasing the most rapidly.

Keywords
Meta-analysis; Epidemiology/methods and epidemiology/trends; Publications/trends; Research design/trends; Diagnostic imaging/trends

Journal
European Radiology: Volume 29, Issue 2

StatusPublished
Publication date01/02/2019
Publication date online26/07/2018
Date accepted by journal28/05/2018
ISSN0938-7994
eISSN1432-1084