Gender Equity in Rheumatology Research: Global Analysis of Authors.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate gender representation of authors in rheumatology research over the last decade.

METHODS

Using metadata from original and review articles published between 2015 and 2024 in SCImago top two quartile (Q1, Q2) rheumatology journals, author gender was classified using two public databases. Geographic location of first-author affiliation was also obtained. Analyses summarized trends by year, journal quartile, and geographic region.

RESULTS

We included 52,796 articles from 38 journals (19 Q1). There was parity in first authorship between women (45%) and men (43%) in Q1 but not Q2 journals (34% women, 50% men). There were more men in last authorship positions (Q1: 35% women, 55% men; Q2: 27% women, 60% men). The ratio of women to men authors by article rose from 0.64 to 0.82 in Q1 journals over 10 years but was stagnant in Q2 journals (0.62 to 0.59). The percentage of total authors that were women increased slightly in Q1 journals (+4.2%) but decreased in Q2 journals (-1.8%). For first authorship, articles from all regions except Asia showed equal representation of men and women. Articles from Asia and Europe showed greatest disparity in last authorship versus other regions.

CONCLUSION

Representation of women in rheumatology research is equal to that of men in some areas, though a gender gap persists in last authorship, articles from lower-ranked journals, and articles from Asian and European institutions.