Thromb Haemost 2021; 121(01): 001-003
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722198
Editorial

Looking Back on 2020, Looking Forward to 2021

Gregory Y. H. Lip
1   Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
2   Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
,
Anne Rigby
3   Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Christian Weber
3   Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
4   German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
5   Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
› Institutsangaben

We are embarking on board of 2021 with great expectations as to the ongoing scientific efforts addressing the current clinical emergency globally. In line with previous years, we offer our editorial reflections looking back on 2020, and looking forward to 2021.[1] [2]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has unleashed an unprecedented scientific production, undoubtedly in the best interest of regaining control over the dystopic crisis. The quality of evidence published in major medical journals appeared however to be lower (e.g., according to trial criteria, database) during the first part of 2020 as compared with the same period in 2019, an effect largely due to studies related to COVID-19. A reduction in quality of published evidence represents a major concern, owing to the rapid dissemination and immediate implementation into clinical practice. Even at the highest profile journals in medicine, widely heralded publications (which we avoid to promote through citation here) warranted retraction.

Our Journal has also encountered a major shift in submissions received toward COVID-19-related studies, and a substantial share of COVID-19 publications in 2020.[3] [4] We have nonetheless strived to keep our editorial requirements in mind and thoroughly privileged scientific quality over quantity, as well as international expert guidance.[7] [8] This is reflected by the lower general acceptance rate (under 5%) of manuscripts relating to COVID-19 compared with the overall acceptance rate (around 20%) in the same period. At T&H, we indeed encourage a more traditional and balanced approach to achieve thorough and reliable results for publication.

In 2020, as in previous years,[5] [6] we could once more count on just over 900 submissions from you, a stable number reflecting the trust you place in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. In comparison to others in the field, our Impact factor has maintained a constant trend, specifically reflected by the Percentile index in the hematology and peripheral vascular disease category, which were above 80% over the past 5 years. We continue to serve as a link journal for the European Society of Cardiology Working Groups on Thrombosis and on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, as well as being the official journal of the Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Research (GTH), the Spanish (SETH) Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the Australian Vascular Biology Society (AVBS).



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 05. Dezember 2020

Angenommen: 05. Dezember 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. Januar 2021

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