Rolf Ekroth, cardiac surgeon and now emeritus professor from Gothenburg University, has served as a Chief Editor of this journal from the year 2000 through 2012. As his successor, it is my privilege both to look back and forward, and to discuss our achievements and aims for the Journal in the future. Under professor Ekroth's leadership, 72 issues of Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal (SCJ) have been published, with an average of 67 articles per year. The submitted manuscripts have a world-wide origin, but when it comes to publishing, some priority has been given to matters that are particularly relevant to this part of the world. During the 12 past years, the SCJ has held an important and stable position both in the clinical and the scientific cardiovascular community, in the Nordic countries and beyond. We have had a broad panel of associate editors, and authors often express gratitude to our excellent reviewers, even in cases of manuscript rejection. Hence, we gratefully acknowledge the editorial work of professor Ekroth.
Do we need a Nordic cardiovascular journal?
From time to time, we must raise this question. The Journal was founded in 1967 by the late professor Viking Olof Björk in Stockholm, under the name Scandinavian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. In 1997, the name was changed to the current Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal, and we now publish volume 47. In 2012, 56 papers were printed. Among these, 47 (84%) had at least one coauthor from a Nordic country, and all the five Nordic countries were represented among the authors (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). Quite a few of these papers are mainly relevant to a Nordic audience, and less of interest to the world-wide readers marked. Examples are, for instance, regional distribution of genetic polymorphisms, aspects of epidemiology, quality of life studies, and health economy. Further, the Nordic profile of the journal attracts more high-quality manuscripts from our region, justifying the preponderance of regional origin of the printed papers. Among the most cited papers ever (Citation1–3) or most cited in the two years following publication (Citation4,Citation5), all have a Nordic origin. Hence, we may conclude that the SCI is a considerable channel for communicating scientific work from the Nordic area.
The five Nordic countries have common features in ethnicity, language (with the exception of Finnish), health scenario, health care system, social care, and general political thinking. Both historically and today, we share a common labor market, including the health care. The income gap between the upper and lower quintiles is lesser than that in the rest of the world, and the governments provide the major part of the health care. The average inhabitant can enjoy a long life. The increasing proportion of old and very old people represents a particular challenge, not the least to providers of cardiovascular health care. It is tempting to conclude that there are several fields of cardiovascular medicine and surgery where a common Nordic platform is needed for scientific publication and debate.
A cardiovascular journal
Originally, the Journal was the journal for the members of the Swedish Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. It was owned by the Society, and the scope of the Journal was surgical. The late professor Axel Henze, Uppsala, was an editor from 1983 to 1999, and with the broadening of the Journal's scope and name change in 1997, the first cardiology co-editor was appointed (the late professor Torsten Toftegaard Nielsen, Aarhus), and succeeded by me in 1999. Until now there have been two lines of editorial work: either surgery or cardiology. Time has now come for unity; there is no longer a rationale for splitting the field of cardiovascular research. Epidemiology, genetics, health economy, quality-of-life studies, and basic science all have entered the journal, and contribute significantly to the quality. Interventions are shared between several specialties. The main aim, however, will still be to present relevant high-quality clinical studies.
How shall we compete on the market of scientific journals?
There are strong forces that direct manuscripts on excellent studies to the high-impact world-leading journals. Economic awarding, prestige and the opportunity to distribute important messages all widely influence our choices for publication site. Our niche in the publication marked should therefore be
studies which are of particular interest to a Nordic audience.
studies that are denied access to the upper-class journals, but contain messages that are valuable and ought to be communicated. Often such manuscripts benefit from extensive advice from competent reviewers, and we think we can offer that.
studies that are included in a PhD thesis. Often the first author has time constraints, and we can offer rapid editorial handling. We have had a “fast-track pathway” option that did not work well and now is terminated, but upon request, selected attractive manuscripts can be offered excellent, but still fast evaluation. Accepted manuscripts are now almost immediately available as Epub ahead of print (PubMed).
Relations to the Nordic societies for cardiovascular surgery and cardiology
The Journal is based on the Nordic cardiovascular research community. It was established and owned by one of the societies, and from 1997, it was the official journal of all the Nordic Societies for cardiovascular surgery and cardiology. In later years, however, the bonds have been looser. In 2004, the ownership of the Journal was transferred to Taylor and Francis (later Informa Healthcare). The publisher prints and distributes the Journal, and appoints the chief editor, who independently organizes the editorial staff and work. We think now time has come for strengthening our relationships with the Nordic societies.
The recipe of success contains the following ingredients: excellent reviewer service, fast editorial manuscript handling, and immediate publication, and finally, we need the attitude “this is our Journal” among the Nordic cardiovascular colleagues and societies. If this is achieved, we deserve to celebrate the 50-year anniversary in 2017 with proudness and may look with optimism into the future.
Declaration of interest: The author reports no declarations of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
References
- Lunde K, Solheim S, Aakhus S, Arnesen H, Abdelnoor M, Forfang K; ASTAMI investigators. Autologous stem cell transplantation in acute myocardial infarction: the ASTAMI randomized controlled trial. Intracoronary transplantation of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells, study design and safety aspects. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2005;39:150–8.
- Cline CM, Willenheimer RB, Erhardt LR, Wiklund I, Israelsson BY. Health-related quality of life in elderly patients with heart failure. Scand Cardiovasc J. 1999;33:278–85.
- Heiberg E, Engblom H, Engvall J, Hedström E, Ugander M, Arheden H. Semi-automatic quantification of myocardial infarction from delayed contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2005;39:267–75.
- Friis T, Haack-Sørensen M, Mathiasen AB, Ripa RS, Kristoffersen US, Jørgensen E, et al. Mesenchymal stromal cell derived endothelial progenitor treatment in patients with refractory angina. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2011;45:161–8.
- Henriksen JH, Møller S. Cardiac and systemic haemodynamic complications of liver cirrhosis. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2009;43:218–25.