Cardiovascular Disease Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
Long QT syndrome
A genetic disorder of cardiac ion channels causing prolonged ventricular repolarization and risk of sudden death.
CHA2DS2-VASc
Risk stratification tool for stroke risk in atrial fibrillation patients.
chronotropic incompetence
Inability of the heart rate to increase appropriately with exertion or stress. A key finding in cardiac stress testing.
coarctation of the aorta
A congenital narrowing of the aorta that can cause hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy.
collateral circulation
Alternative blood flow pathways that develop to bypass blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
constrictive pericarditis
Chronic inflammation leading to pericardial scarring and restriction of cardiac filling and function.
CRUSADE score
Bleeding risk prediction tool used to estimate major bleeding risk in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary synd...
CTO
Chronic Total Occlusion, a completely blocked coronary artery with TIMI 0 flow for duration greater than three months.
culprit vessel
The specific coronary artery responsible for causing an acute coronary syndrome or myocardial infarction.
DAPT
Dual Antiplatelet Therapy combining aspirin with a P2Y12 inhibitor for prevention of thrombotic events after acute coron...
diastolic
Relating to the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscle relaxes and chambers fill with blood.
diastolic heart failure
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction where the heart muscle stiffens and cannot relax properly during filling.
dilated cardiomyopathy
A heart muscle disease characterized by ventricular chamber enlargement and reduced systolic function.
door-to-balloon time
Quality metric measuring the time from hospital arrival to coronary artery opening during primary PCI for STEMI patients...
dyssynchrony
Uncoordinated contraction pattern of heart muscle affecting pumping efficiency.
ECG
Electrocardiogram; a diagnostic test recording electrical activity of the heart.
echocardiogram
Ultrasound examination of the heart to assess structure and function non-invasively.
ejection fraction
Percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat, indicating heart function.
endocarditis
Infection or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, often caused by bacteria.
FFR
Fractional flow reserve measurement used to assess the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis during cathet...
fractional flow reserve
Invasive measurement during cardiac catheterization that assesses the functional significance of coronary artery blockag...
GRACE score
A validated risk stratification tool used to predict mortality and ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndr...
HAS-BLED
Bleeding risk assessment tool for patients on anticoagulation therapy.
heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Heart failure syndrome with normal or near-normal left ventricular systolic function.
heart team approach
Multidisciplinary consultation process involving cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other specialists to determine opt...