TRENDS IN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND PATIENT TURNOVER IN CARDIOLOGY IN HUNGARY BETWEEN 2014 AND 2024
Author(s)
Luca Kovács, MSc1, István Ágoston, JD, PhD1, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD1, Cordula Azucséna Guziczi, MSc1, Zsuzsanna Kívés, MSc, PhD1, Tímea Csákvári, MSc, PhD2, Árpád Antal, MSc3, Diána Elmer, MSc, PhD1.
1Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, 3Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
1Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, 3Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the changes in the number of hospital beds and patient turnover in cardiology in Hungary between 2014-2024.
METHODS: Data were obtained for the period 2014-2024 from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration’s (NHIFA) database on the number of beds and patient turnover for the cardiology profession for the following indicators: number of hospital beds in operation each year, number of discharged patients, number of day care cases, number of completed days of care, average length of stay and bed occupancy. Each healthcare institution was grouped by type of institution. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used.
RESULTS: In Hungary, the number of hospital beds decreased by 5.07%, the number of discharged patients by 4.21%, the number of days of care by 14.89%, the average length of stay by 12.04%, and bed occupancy by 8.92% between 2014 and 2024. In contrast, the number of day care cases increased by 97.95%. In 2024, the average number of cardiology hospital beds per one hospital ward was 52.35±35.32; the average number of patients discharged was 3,091.03±2,803.37; the average number of day care cases was 657.73±1,265.95; the average number of days of care provided was 13,468.22±8,017.52, and the average bed occupancy was 71.75%. When examined by type of institution, the largest differences in 2024 were for capital city hospitals in the number of beds (5.67-fold), in the number of day cases (1,123-fold) and in the average length of stay (2.58-fold); for county hospitals in the number of patients discharged (8.15-fold) and in the days of care completed (30.33-fold); for city hospitals in bed occupancy (98.86%).
CONCLUSIONS: In Hungary, the number of hospital beds and their utilization, with the exception of one-day cases, show a decreasing trend in cardiology. There are significant differences between types of institutions.
METHODS: Data were obtained for the period 2014-2024 from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration’s (NHIFA) database on the number of beds and patient turnover for the cardiology profession for the following indicators: number of hospital beds in operation each year, number of discharged patients, number of day care cases, number of completed days of care, average length of stay and bed occupancy. Each healthcare institution was grouped by type of institution. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used.
RESULTS: In Hungary, the number of hospital beds decreased by 5.07%, the number of discharged patients by 4.21%, the number of days of care by 14.89%, the average length of stay by 12.04%, and bed occupancy by 8.92% between 2014 and 2024. In contrast, the number of day care cases increased by 97.95%. In 2024, the average number of cardiology hospital beds per one hospital ward was 52.35±35.32; the average number of patients discharged was 3,091.03±2,803.37; the average number of day care cases was 657.73±1,265.95; the average number of days of care provided was 13,468.22±8,017.52, and the average bed occupancy was 71.75%. When examined by type of institution, the largest differences in 2024 were for capital city hospitals in the number of beds (5.67-fold), in the number of day cases (1,123-fold) and in the average length of stay (2.58-fold); for county hospitals in the number of patients discharged (8.15-fold) and in the days of care completed (30.33-fold); for city hospitals in bed occupancy (98.86%).
CONCLUSIONS: In Hungary, the number of hospital beds and their utilization, with the exception of one-day cases, show a decreasing trend in cardiology. There are significant differences between types of institutions.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH209
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas