To the Editor:

The Journal of Rheumatology (JR) was founded in 1974 by Dr. Metro Ogryzlo with a vision to promote rheumatology as a separate specialty. In honor of JR’s 50th anniversary, the Editor-in-Chief reflected on the journal’s remarkable journey.1 In fact, rheumatology journals have made a significant impact in the academic landscape by collectively publishing over 161,200 research documents. According to the Scopus database (https://www.scopus.com), from 1945 to October 21, 2023, precisely 151 rheumatology journals have published individually more than 10 research documents. From the list, we selected the top 100 most cited publications. Among this, JR stands out with a remarkable achievement—11 of its papers have secured a place in the top 100 most cited documents. In fact, as of October 21, 2023, JR has published articles (n = 13,481), letters (n = 2937), and editorials (n = 1271), to name a few.

Since its inception, JR has not only maintained its commitment to excellence but has also progressively expanded its global reach. In its first decade, the journal attracted contributions from 34 different countries, laying the foundation for international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Over the subsequent decades, its influence continued to grow exponentially, as seen by the number of countries actively participating in the dissemination of rheumatological research. In the second decade, the journal’s scope extended to 58 countries, further solidifying its reputation as a global authority in rheumatology. The trend continued upward, with 64 countries in the third decade, 83 in the fourth, and an impressive 84 in the fifth decade.

The fact that JR has been publishing for 50 years is a positive indicator. Longevity itself suggests that it has been a consistent and respected source of scholarly work over time. To assess its quality and influence, we considered several key factors. For instance, based on CiteScore (2023), JR has occupied the 16th position out of 66 journals in the field of rheumatology. We further compared its progress with the top 15 journals on CiteScore (ie, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis and Rheumatology, Arthritis Care and Research, Arthritis Research and Therapy, Autoimmunity Highlights, Best Practice and Research in Clinical Rheumatology, Biologics: Targets and Therapy, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, Current Rheumatology Reports, Nature Reviews Rheumatology, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Rheumatology [Oxford], RMD Open, Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, and The Lancet Rheumatology). The quantity of published articles in a journal is a fundamental measure of its contribution to the field. For example, from 2013 to 2022, based on the number of its publications (n = 3513), JR stands in third position among the 16 journals. With 57,700 citations, JR ranks fifth among the compared journals, indicating its substantial influence and relevance in the field. JR has also garnered an impressive total of 58,368 views, which reflects its substantial online visibility and impact. Similarly, JR has an h-index of 196, which places it in the fourth position among the 16 stated journals. It signifies that the journal has published a substantial number of highly cited articles and that these articles have been referenced at least 196 times in other scholarly publications. We also compared the impact factor (IF) of the top 16 journals. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, The Lancet Rheumatology, and Nature Reviews Rheumatology have notably high IFs (2022) of 27.4, 25.4, and 32.28, respectively. In contrast, the remaining journals have IFs ranging from 4 to 6, demonstrating a similarity in their scholarly influence within the field of rheumatology. This places JR among the top-tier publications, signifying its significant contribution to the academic and research community. JR has also received citations from scholars and researchers in 166 different countries, reflecting its global reach and influence. This wide international recognition and engagement signify the journal’s capacity to contribute to the dissemination of valuable research findings and knowledge on a global scale.

JR stands out as a prominent and influential journal in the field of rheumatology, showcasing its commitment to research dissemination, global reach, and scholarly impact. Last but not least, on the momentous occasion of JR’s 50th anniversary, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the honorable Editor-in-Chief, the entire editorial board, the diligent reviewers, and each individual author who has made this publication a cornerstone of excellence in the field of rheumatology.