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The Lancet Rheumatology

The Lancet Rheumatology is a rheumatology journal with ISSN 2665-9913. It publishes content including Reviews, Articles, Comments, Viewpoints, and Correspondence, and features both Open Access articles under the CC BY 4.0 license and other journal content. Reported journal metrics include an Impact Factor of 16.4, a CiteScore of 24.3, and a 5-Year Impact Factor of 14.6.

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Subject Rheumatology
Impact Factor 16.4
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
ISSN 2665-9913
eISSN 2665-9913
Invitation Only No
Cost Range USD 8,010 APC for open access publishing in The Lancet Rheumatology as of Jan 1, 2026.

Submission Instructions

The Lancet Rheumatology accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Article

Cover Letter A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract A semi-structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 300 words. The abstract must be semi-structured as five paragraphs. The abstract must use the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript Articles must be up to 3500 words, or up to 4500 words for randomised controlled trials. Primary research Articles must include a Research in Context panel, and the Discussion section must contain a full description and discussion of the context. The manuscript must include a data sharing statement, a Declaration of interests section at the end of the text, author contribution statements at the end of the text, a Role of the funding source subsection at the end of Methods or as an acknowledgment if there is no Methods section, and any AI-use disclosure statement in the acknowledgments section.
References Articles must include no more than 30 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, with up to six authors listed in full and seven or more listed as the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels, and figures must be included with the submission. When reporting Kaplan-Meier survival data, numbers at risk must be included at each timepoint.
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Meta-Analysis

Cover Letter A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract A semi-structured summary is required for Meta-Analyses. The abstract must be semi-structured.
Manuscript Meta-Analyses should aim for a maximum length of about 3500 words. Meta-Analyses must be structured around five sections: Summary, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Meta-Analyses must include a Research in Context panel without references, a data sharing statement detailing what data and additional documents will be shared, when data will become available, and the access criteria, a Declaration of interests section at the end of the text, author contribution statements at the end of the text, and an acknowledgment disclosure statement for any generative AI use in writing with methods reporting of AI use in the study where applicable.
References Meta-Analyses should have a maximum of 75 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer and the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work only in the text.
Figures & Tables First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
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Review

Cover Letter Cover letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract A 150-word unstructured summary is required. Abstract must not exceed 150 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript Manuscript should be no more than 4500 words. Manuscript should include a brief section entitled 'Search strategy and selection criteria' stating the sources searched and the criteria used to include or exclude studies. Manuscript must include author contributions at the end of the text, a 'Declaration of interests' subheading, an AI-use disclosure statement in the acknowledgments if applicable, and a methods description of any generative AI used in developing the review if applicable.
References References must not exceed 75. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer, and list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more.
Figures & Tables Use of up to 5–6 illustrations is encouraged. First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
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Correspondence

Cover Letter A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Correspondence letters must be no longer than 400 words. The text must include author contributions at the end and a 'Declaration of interests' subheading, and any use of generative AI in writing must be disclosed in a statement at the end of the article in the acknowledgments section including the model name, version, exact prompt, and how and where it was used.
References Correspondence letters must include no more than five references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer, list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work in the text rather than in the reference list.
Figures & Tables Only one table or figure is permitted. First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
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Health Policy

Cover Letter A covering letter must be included with the first submission.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Health Policy manuscripts are narrative reviews and should follow the same guidelines as a Review. The manuscript must include author contribution statements and a 'Declaration of interests' section at the end of the text, and any use of generative AI in writing must be disclosed in the acknowledgments with the model name, version, exact prompt, and how and where it was used.
References References must use Vancouver style with sequential superscript numbering in the text. List all authors when there are six or fewer, list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work only in the text.
Figures & Tables First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels, and figures must also be included with the submission. Annotated figures must be provided as both an annotated copy and a non-annotated editable copy, and multi-part figures must be provided as both individual parts and a combined version.
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Clinical Picture

Cover Letter A covering letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Clinical Picture text must not exceed 300 words. Clinical Pictures must include contextual text with a brief patient history and an explanation of what the image shows and why it is of interest to the general reader. Clinical Picture submissions must include a challenging clinical question related to the case and four possible answers.
References Clinical Pictures must not include references. References use Vancouver numbering style. References in the text must be cited sequentially as superscripted numbers after punctuation, journal names must use Index Medicus abbreviations, references with six or fewer authors list all authors, and references with seven or more authors list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
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Recent Publications

Announcing The Lancet Rheumatology commission on reproductive health and family planning in immune-mediated long-term conditions: empowering special reproductive journeys

Karen Schreiber, Anna Clark, Laura Andreoli

10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00157-8
View Publication

Towards global clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: a review of current guideline recommendations and how they have changed over the last 30 years

Crystian B Oliveira, Bart W Koes, Rafael Z Pinto, Adrian C Traeger, Gustavo C Machado, Chung-Wei Christine Lin, Jill A Hayden, Jan Hartvigsen, Caitlin M P Jones, Qiuzhe Chen, Alessandro Chiarotto, Chris G Maher

10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00077-9
View Publication

Redefining axial spondyloarthritis: more than just back pain

The Lancet Rheumatology

10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00155-4
View Publication

Research in Brief

Jennifer Thorley

10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00153-0
View Publication

The role of health literacy in clinical, treatment, and work-related outcomes in people with inflammatory arthritis in England: a cross-sectional study

Mrinalini Dey, Sam Norton, Andrew P Cope, Maya H Buch, Ailsa Bosworth, Richard Osborne, James B Galloway, Elena Nikiphorou

10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00081-0
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Eligible fast-track original research articles are published within 10 weeks of submission.

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What are the publication costs?

The Lancet Rheumatology is a hybrid journal with an APC of USD 8,010 for open access publishing as of Jan 1, 2026.

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Research Topics

Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments Vasculitis and related conditions Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 Inflammasome and immune disorders Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Otitis Media and Relapsing Polychondritis Dermatological and COVID-19 studies Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes Immune Cell Function and Interaction Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

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