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Contribution of Arab countries to Behçet disease research: a PubMed-based bibliometric and altmetric analysis

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Abstract

Behçet’s disease (BD), a rare multisystemic disorder, has an unknown etiology. Interactions between genetic and environmental factors play a major role in this disorder. Human leukocyte antigen B51 allele is the strongest risk factor for the development of Behçet disease. The high prevalence of BD in the Arab world makes it necessary to undergo local research and publications, to target particular genetic, geographical, or even cultural risk factors. This study aims to assess the numerical contribution of the Arab world to research on Behçet disease. Using the PubMed platform, the number of BD-related publications from 2005 to 2019 was assessed for all 22 Arab countries, and countries having the highest prevalence of the disease. Number of publications on BD was normalized to the average population size and GDP for each Arab country. From 2005 to 2019, Arab countries published 198 articles related to BD. This accounts for 0.1% of the total number of BD-related articles published in this period (4170). A significant, positive correlation of moderate strength exists between the number of publications and the average population, while a non-significant, positive correlation of week strength exists between the number of publications and GDP. Concerning the top 15 countries according to Behçet disease prevalence, Turkey had the greatest number of articles, while the USA had the highest ratio of publications per prevalence. The high prevalence of BD in Arabic countries was faced by paradoxically low research activity in this field. Arab countries are lagging behind in the field of Behçet disease-related research, which highlights the need for improving research productivity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jad El Masri, Said El Hage, Atef Akoum, Issa Awaida, Fatima Kourani, Hani Chanbour & Pascale Salameh

  2. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jad El Masri & Said El Hage

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Pascale Salameh

  4. INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon

    Said El Hage & Pascale Salameh

  5. University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Pascale Salameh

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  1. Jad El Masri
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  6. Hani Chanbour
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  7. Pascale Salameh
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Contributions

Conception or design of the work: JEM, SEH, PS. Data acquisition: JEM, SEH. Analysis: JEM, SHE. Interpretation of data for the work: AA, IA, FK, HC, JEM, SHE. All authors drafted the work or revised it critically for important intellectual content. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published. All authors had agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All authors take full responsibility for the integrity of the study and the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jad El Masri.

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El Masri, J., El Hage, S., Akoum, A. et al. Contribution of Arab countries to Behçet disease research: a PubMed-based bibliometric and altmetric analysis. Rheumatol Int 42, 133–140 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-021-04990-5

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