The importance of national and international collaboration in adult congenital heart disease: A network analysis of research output.
BACKGROUND
The determinants of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) research output are only partially understood. The heterogeneity of ACHD naturally calls for collaborative work; however, limited information exists on the impact of collaboration on academic performance. We aimed to examine the global topology of ACHD research, distribution of research collaboration and its association with cumulative research output.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Based on publications presenting original research between 2005 and 2011, a network analysis was performed quantifying centrality measures and key players in the field of ACHD. In addition, network maps were produced to illustrate the global distribution and interconnected nature of ACHD research. The proportion of collaborative research was 35.6 % overall, with a wide variation between countries (7.1 to 62.8%). The degree of research collaboration, as well as measures of network centrality (betweenness and degree centrality), were statistically associated with cumulative research output independently of national wealth and available workforce. The global ACHD research network was found to be scale-free with a small number of central hubs and a relatively large number of peripheral nodes. In addition, we could identify potentially influential hubs based on cluster analysis and measures of centrality/key player analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Using network analysis methods the current study illustrates the complex and global structures of ACHD research. It suggests that collaboration between research institutions is associated with higher academic output. As a consequence national and international collaboration in ACHD research should be encouraged and the creation of an adequate supporting infrastructure should be further promoted.
['Orwat|Melanie Iris|MI|', 'Kempny|Aleksander|A|', 'Bauer|Ulrike|U|', 'Gatzoulis|Michael A|MA|', 'Baumgartner|Helmut|H|', 'Diller|Gerhard-Paul|GP|']
D000328:Adult D035843:Biomedical Research D019468:Disease Management D014943:Global Health D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital D006801:Humans D007255:Information Services D007391:International Cooperation D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care D012106:Research D013597:Systems Analysis
Adult congenital heart disease Network analysis Research output Bibliometric analysis