The cardiology division of the Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at the Clinical Center of the University of Debrecen has been providing treatment for patients with cardiovascular diseases in Eastern Hungary for decades. During these years we have managed to provide high-quality care for an increasing number of patients in a building continuously extended to meet the increased demand. Therapeutic guidelines change but one thing has remained the same in the last 30-40 years: the unwavering desire to heal patients.
With a staff of 265 people (including physicians, nurses, and service staff) we strive to make inpatient and outpatient care as tolerable as possible.
The activities of our department cover the entire range of procedures in modern cardiology. The average monthly number of patients is 715 in the case of inpatients. 162 of these patients are treated in intensive care and 553 at the active cardiology department on 14 beds in the intensive care unit and 101 in the active department.
With two electrophysiology operating rooms, two hemodynamic laboratories, and—since 2024—a hybrid cardiac catheterization laboratory, we apply the full range of modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures currently available in invasive cardiology, continuously keeping pace with the rapidly evolving field. As a regional center, we also undertake the management of more complex and less common interventions, such as patients with coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and other structural heart conditions, arrhythmias, and heart failure are provided access to advanced treatment and recovery.
Since January 5, 2015, in collaboration with the late Gyula Kenézy Hospital, we have been operating an early cardiac rehabilitation department with a full capacity of 15+5 beds. The annual number at our cardiology outpatient clinic is more than 4050 cases/month. In addition to general cardiology outpatient care, we operate a range of specialized clinics, including diabetology, Holter monitoring, exercise ECG testing, arrhythmology and pacemaker follow-up, as well as dedicated clinics for heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardio-obstetrics, onco-cardiology, structural heart disease, emergency cardiology and cardiovascular risk management and follow-up care. For many years, our institute has operated a consultation-based trans-telephonic ECG system, which has become an integral component of both outpatient and inpatient services. The effectiveness of our work is reflected in our clinical outcomes. Hospital mortality in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has consistently remained below the national average; in 2023 it was 4.72% (national average: 6.49%). In ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the in-hospital mortality rate was similarly favorable at 9.95% (national average: 10.76%).
Our physicians and healthcare professionals regularly participate in national and international continuing education programs and scientific conferences, where they present their research findings and share clinical experience, thereby contributing to the advancement of cardiovascular care.
Our research activities focus on the investigation of cardiac muscle cells to better understand the underlying mechanisms of various heart diseases. Through these studies, we aim to gain deeper insight into disease development, the factors influencing disease progression, and potential therapeutic strategies.