Abstracts presented at the European Society for Pediatric Urology (ESPU) meetings (2003-2010): Characteristics and outcome

Objective: To determine the characteristics and outcome of abstracts presented to the meetings of the European Society for Pediatric Urology (ESPU). Material and methods: Abstract books from 2003 to 2010 were reviewed and subsequent publication of presented abstracts determined by MEDLINE/PubMed search. Results: Of 1194 abstracts, 50-78% per year originated from 15 to 20 European countries and 50-22% from 8 to 13 non-European countries; 233 (19%) were basic science and 961 (81%) clinical. Clinical abstracts included 135 (14%) multicenter/prospective/randomized trials. These figures did not change significantly over time. A total of 564 (47%) abstracts were subsequently published, 65% within 1 year of the meeting, mostly in the Journal of Urology (33%) and the Journal of Pediatric Urology (21%). Multicenter/prospective/randomized trials studies (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.37-2.96) and abstracts originating from outside Europe (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.26 -2.05) were significantly more likely to be subsequently published in full. Conclusion: The ESPU meetings are a true occasion for international exchange of scientific endeavors. Almost half of the abstracts are subsequently published. The Journal of Urology and the Journal of Pediatric Urology are consistently the two major target journals for publication. Non-European countries, irrespective of whether English-speaking or not, seem significantly more likely to publish their abstracts