The C/B medical abbreviation usually means complicated by, a short way to connect a condition, pregnancy or procedure with a problem that developed because of it or along with it. A line such as pneumonia c/b sepsis tells the reader that the pneumonia led to a more serious problem.
It appears mostly in the history and assessment parts of notes, where clinicians need to sum up a long story in one line. In some clinic messages, CB can also mean call back. This page decodes sample lines and shows how c/b fits with similar chart shorthand.
At a glance
Stands for
Complicated byOther meanings
Call back, in some office messagesWritten as
c/b, C/B, cbWhere you see it
History, assessment, problem lists, discharge summariesOften next to
Do not confuse with
C/O, complains of
What the C/B medical abbreviation means
Complicated by tells the reader that a main problem did not follow a simple course. The item before c/b is the starting point and the item after it is the complication. The two are linked in time and usually in cause, though not every writer is strict about cause.
Using c/b lets a clinician compress a long history into a single line that still makes sense. One line can carry a diagnosis, a procedure and what went wrong afterward, which is why the term shows up so often in admission notes and discharge summaries.
Sample lines decoded
| Chart line | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| DM2 c/b neuropathy | Type 2 diabetes that has led to nerve damage |
| s/p CABG c/b afib | Had bypass surgery, then developed an irregular heart rhythm |
| Pregnancy c/b gestational diabetes | A pregnancy in which diabetes developed |
| Cellulitis c/b abscess | A skin infection that formed a pocket of pus |
Admission note: "72 yo F with COPD c/b chronic hypoxic respiratory failure on 2 L home O2." Her lung disease has progressed to the point of needing oxygen at home every day.
C/B medical abbreviation meaning in coding and documentation
For coding and documentation trainees, the link that c/b draws can matter. Many coding rules treat a condition with a complication differently from two separate conditions, and the wording in the note helps show that connection. The coder still relies on the full documentation and the rules of the code set, not on the abbreviation alone.
Writers who want to be clear may spell it out, especially in summaries that go to other facilities. Complicated by, due to and with are not always interchangeable, so precise wording helps the next reader.
Similar slash abbreviations compared
Slash shorthand is common in history taking, and the letters look alike at speed.
| Shorthand | Meaning |
|---|---|
| c/b | Complicated by |
| c/o | Complains of |
| s/p | Status post |
| h/o | History of |
| c/w | Consistent with |
| r/t | Related to |
The C/W page and the full chart notes and nursing list cover more of these.
The call back meaning
In outpatient offices, CB or c/b is sometimes used in phone messages and task notes to mean call back, as in pt requests c/b re: lab results. This use sits in message logs rather than clinical histories, so it rarely overlaps with complicated by.
If you see c/b in a portal message about scheduling or results, call back is the likely meaning. If it sits between two medical conditions, it means complicated by.
A chart line linking conditions is shorthand meant for clinicians. Your clinician can explain how any listed complication relates to your own health.
Frequently asked questions
What does c/b mean in a medical history?
It means complicated by. It links a main condition or procedure to a problem that developed with it or after it.
Does c/b mean complains of?
No. C/b means complicated by, while c/o means complains of, used for symptoms the patient reports.
What does s/p surgery c/b infection mean?
It means the person had surgery and the recovery was complicated by an infection. Notes often add which infection and when it happened.
Can c/b mean call back?
Yes, in some office phone messages and task notes. In a clinical history between two conditions, it means complicated by.