Bibliometrics of Latin American research on COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic: the main trends

Introduction: An outbreak of the COVID-19 was appended in central Chinese city Wuhan December 2019. Lots related papers were published world since then. Objective: This study aimed to identify and analyze characteristics publications Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) by Latin Americans 2020. Methods: Documents including searching keywords their title, abstract, or author from SCI-EXPANDED assessed. The analyzed aspects covered document types, languages, Web categories, journals. Publication performances countries institutions evaluated six publication indicators two citation indicators. Results: A lower percentage articles a higher Spanish language found. category general internal medicine most articles. Clinics popular journal. Cadernos de Saude Publica Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira reviews, respectively. Brazil took leading position University São Paulo productive institution. Based on number citations Core Collection end 2020, 10 frequently cited presented. In addition, analysis words titles, keywords, KeyWords Plus performed find main research focuses. Conclusions: total 3 056 documents mainly categories ‘general medicine’ ‘public, environmental occupational health’. More letters editorial materials fewer first year its outbreak. Portuguese dominated ranked top all while Technological Pereira Colombia had impact for first- corresponding-author publications. Health infection