Most frequently cited and downloaded papers from Volume 98 (2005)

We have previously commented on the difference between citations and requests for downloads of full text articles. We analyzed the download and citation statistics for articles in the first volume in 2005 (volume 98), giving sufficient time for the value of articles to be appreciated. We might have expected some similarity between the most downloaded and the most cited articles. The top 8 for downloads in Volume 98 published between January and February 2005 were three major review articles, a clinical trial and 4 reports from extensive clinical observational research. In terms of citations there is a quite different list. We reach number 4 on the citations list before we obtain any article from the top 10 of the download list. It is clear that there is a little correlation between download statistics and citation measures. Which measure better reflects quality or impact remains to be evaluated.