How the COVID-19 Reshaped Global Health Research: A Systematic Evaluation

• In Event: 30669 - Knowledge #1: Data, Risk, and Knowledge in Health Policy

Abstract

This study aims to reveal how COVID-19 has reshaped the global health research landscape from both short-term and long-term perspectives based on multiple large datasets, and to identify the specific benefits and drawbacks of these changes. Our analysis encompasses a total of 29,602,348 articles, 7,154,654 disambiguated authors, and 119 diseases.The findings indicate that, akin to disease burden, medical research maintains a stable distribution pattern in general, with the primary impact of the pandemic on research observed in areas characterized by "low burden, low attention." From this perspective, COVID-19 has, in a sense, facilitated the rational allocation of research resources. A notable exception is depressive disorders, which, despite a significant increase in burden, experienced a decline in attention. The frequent co-occurrence of certain diseases with COVID-19 is primarily due to their large research volume, high patient burden, and the relevance of their clinical features and management for COVID-19. Finally, COVID-19 has also accelerated the migration of authors to new fields, with some immediately shifting to COVID-19 research, while others have moved to related fields.

Author

• Jie Hua, Renmin University of China