Publication rate and citation counts for preprints released during the COVID-19 pandemic: the good, the bad and the ugly

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10927
• Publication Date: 2021-03-03T09:12:48Z
• Authors: Diego Añazco; Bryan Nicolalde; Isabel Espinosa; Jose Camacho; Mariam Mushtaq; Jimena Gimenez; Enrique Teran
• Keywords: Citation analysis

Preprints are preliminary reports that have not been peer-reviewed. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus appeared in China, and since then, scientific production, including preprints, has drastically increased. this study, we intend to evaluate how often preprints about COVID-19 were published scholarly journals cited.We searched the iSearch portfolio identify all related posted on bioRxiv, medRxiv, Research Square from January 1, 2020, May 31, 2020. We used custom-designed program obtain metadata using Crossref public API. After that, determined publication rate made comparisons based citation counts non-parametric methods. Also, compared rate, counts, time interval posting preprint server journal among three different servers.Our sample included 5,061 out of which 288 4,773 remained unpublished (publication 5.7%). found articles had significantly higher total count than within our (p < 0.001), eventually as when 0.001). As well, after Our results also show medRxiv highest while bioRxiv shortest journal.We remarkably low for sample, despite accelerated by multiple journals. These findings could be partially attributed unprecedented surge production observed during pandemic, might saturate reviewing editing processes However, lower impact, suggest some quality will able endure peer-reviewing peer-reviewed journal.