Biostatistical and Epidemiological Research Group

Research topics:

The Biostatistics and Epidemiology Research Group conducts research in three main areas:

1. Epidemiological analyses based on administrative/financial data, with particular focus on lower limb arterial diseases and related amputations. Our research group was among the first in Hungary to explore the use of routinely collected healthcare financing data for answering epidemiological questions (HUNVASCDATA project). The primary focus is lower limb arterial diseases and the amputations they necessitate, but the group also engages in general methodological development within this field.
2. Mortality data analysis, focus on excess mortality. A major research area for the group involves analyzing mortality data, particularly excess mortality—a topic widely discussed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this domain, the research group conducts methodological developments, ongoing monitoring, and related public data dissemination. Additionally, the group examines cause-specific mortality, considering temporal trends and cross-country differences.
3. Clinical biostatistical support. The group provides biostatistical assistance for numerous clinical studies of varying scope, currently focusing primarily on cardiology. Our group participates in survival analysis, investigation of temporal and spatial patterns, and registry data analysis.

In addition to these, the research group provides biostatistical support to other research groups within the Physiological Controls Research Center, currently mainly for the Computational Therapy Optimization Research Group (tumor growth model parameter estimation).

Major results:

• Within project of the HUNVASCDATA, we established a unique research methodology for analyzing administrative/financial data. Most of the published Hungarian data related to lower limb amputations originate from our research group, published high-ranking scientific journals.
• Regarding methods for calculating excess mortality, the research group conducted extensive educational and public information activities. Many excess mortality data reported in various press product during the COVID-19 pandemic related to our group. Additionally, we did fundamental research in this field and published significant methodological findings in high-ranking scientific journals.
• Our clinical biostatistical achievements have been documented in dozens of publications, including highly ranked scientific articles.

Grants:

• 2022-2022: Participation in the Epidemiological Mathematics Division of the National Laboratory for Health Security (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00006).