Table 3 Comparison of the 3 main reasons for retraction by impact factor, time to retraction and visibility of retractions

Impact factor (n = 137)

4.9

7.2

2.3

<0.0001

(3.2, 2.9-14.6)

(4.1, 0.7-31.4)

(1.9, 0.3-9.8)

Time to retraction (n = 244), years

2.2

2.5

3.2

0.722

(2, 0–8)

(2, 0–10)

(2, 0–10)

Publication year of retraction vs original article (n = 244), n (%)

0.024

same year

2 (6)

11 (17)

8 (17)

1 to 5 years

31 (91)

47 (72)

29 (60)

>5 years

1 (3)

7 (11)

11 (23)

Visibility (n = 233), n (%)

0.057

mention

28 (82)

38 (62)

22 (51)

no mention

5 (15)

15 (25)

12 (28)

deletion

1 (3)

8 (13)

9 (21)