Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
chronotropic incompetence
Pronunciation: KRON-oh-trop-ik in-kom-PEE-tents
Inability of the heart rate to increase appropriately with exertion or stress. A key finding in cardiac stress testing.
Full Definition
Chronotropic incompetence refers to the failure of the heart rate to reach at least 85% of the predicted maximum heart rate during exercise stress testing. This condition indicates dysfunction of the sinoatrial node or autonomic nervous system response. It is often associated with aging, beta-blocker therapy, or underlying cardiac disease. The condition can contribute to exercise intolerance and may require pacemaker therapy in symptomatic patients.
Usage
Usage note: Often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before a noun.
In Context
- "The stress test revealed chronotropic incompetence with a peak heart rate of only 120 bpm." — Cardiology stress test report
- "Chronotropic incompetence may explain the patient's exercise intolerance despite normal ventricular function." — Clinical assessment note
Also known as
chronotropic dysfunction
impaired heart rate response
Contrasted with
chronotropic competence
Don't confuse with
chronotropic reserve
inotropic incompetence