Turkey’s publications in cardiovascular medicine persisted to decrease substantially in 2011

Turkey’s institutions were evaluated with respect to publication output in cardiovascular medicine in 2011, based on data of the Web of Knowledge. Only articles in full-text and reviews appearing in source publications covered by Science Citation Index CD Edition were included. A fractional count system was used for items published jointly with a foreign center or a noncardiological Turkish institution. Turkey’s publications decreased to 101 in 2011 from 121 of the previous year, as her share of world publication decreased from 6.1 to 5.1 per mille, representing a drop below the 2001 level. Eighty-one articles originated from adult cardiology. The median impact factor was 1.67, similar to that of the previous year, half of the publications appearing in periodicals with an impact factor of 1.33 to 3.52. The front-runner institutions of highest productivity, apart from the TARF Study, were Kartal Koşuyolu and Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Hospitals as well as S. Demirel and Cumhuriyet universities and Gülhane Military Medical Academy. Bells are ringing for authorities to undertake serious measures in realization that Turkey’s medical research activity is on the road to drastic decline.