The CAD medical abbreviation stands for coronary artery disease, meaning fatty plaque has built up inside the coronary arteries, the vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. As these arteries narrow, the heart may not get enough oxygen, especially during effort.
CAD turns up on a great many adult problem lists and is the leading cause of heart attacks. You will find it in cardiology notes, stress test reports, cath lab summaries and coding records. This page explains the medical term, the shorthand that usually comes with it, and how it relates to angina, heart attack and procedures such as PCI and CABG.
At a glance
Stands for
Coronary artery diseaseOther meanings
Computer aided detection, a software aid in some imaging reportsAlso called
Coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease, ASHDWhere you see it
Problem lists, cardiology notes, cath reports, codingDo not confuse with
Specialty
Cardiology
What the CAD medical abbreviation means
Coronary comes from a word for crown, because these arteries circle the top of the heart like one. The disease process behind CAD is atherosclerosis: cholesterol, inflammatory cells and calcium form plaque in the artery wall. Over years the plaque can narrow the channel. When plaque ruptures, a clot may build on the torn surface and abruptly shut the artery, which causes a heart attack (MI).
The odds go up with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol (HLD), diabetes, smoking, older age and relatives who developed heart disease young.
Symptoms and the terms that describe them
Many people with CAD feel nothing for years. When symptoms do appear, notes often describe them with these words:
- Stable angina: chest pressure or tightness with exertion that eases with rest.
- Unstable angina: new, worsening or rest chest pain, part of ACS.
- Anginal equivalent: breathlessness or fatigue in place of chest pain, more common in some groups.
- Silent ischemia: reduced blood flow found on a test without symptoms.
Sudden chest pain, especially with sweating or breathlessness, is an emergency that calls for 911.
Reading CAD in a cardiology summary
| Chart text | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| CAD | Narrowed heart arteries (coronary artery disease) |
| s/p PCI | After a procedure to open an artery from inside |
| with DES | A drug eluting stent was placed |
| to LAD | In the left anterior descending artery |
| on DAPT | Taking two antiplatelet medicines together |
Stress test impression: "Moderate reversible inferior defect, suggestive of ischemia. Recommend LHC." This means part of the heart got less blood during stress than at rest, so the cardiologist suggests a left heart catheterization (LHC) to look at the arteries directly.
Tests and treatments linked to CAD
Testing may include an EKG, a stress test with or without imaging, a coronary CT angiogram, and cardiac catheterization. Treatment usually layers lifestyle changes with medicines such as aspirin, statins like atorvastatin, beta blockers and nitroglycerin for chest pain. Some people need an artery opened with a balloon and stent (PCI) or a bypass operation (CABG). The mix depends on symptoms, test results and overall health, and it is set by the cardiology team.
CAD medical abbreviation and ICD-10 coding
In coding, coronary artery disease falls under the atherosclerotic heart disease codes in the I25 group of ICD-10-CM. A very common one is I25.10, atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris. Other codes in the group add details such as angina, a past bypass graft or an old heart attack. Coders choose the most specific code that the provider's note supports, so clear documentation of angina and graft status matters.
Coding questions belong with a certified coder, and code sets are updated regularly, so always check the current edition.
Neighbors and look alikes
Several abbreviations overlap with CAD. CHD can mean coronary heart disease, which is close to the same idea, though in pediatrics CHD often means congenital heart disease. IHD, ischemic heart disease, is a broad label that includes CAD. In radiology, CAD occasionally means computer aided detection, software that flags areas on images such as mammograms; the report context makes this clear. Browse more on the diagnosis abbreviations hub.
What you read here explains a diagnosis label in general terms. Ask your cardiologist or family doctor how CAD affects your own heart and care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical term for CAD?
CAD is short for coronary artery disease, and that is the usual meaning of this medical acronym in any heart note. Plaque has built up and tightened the vessels feeding the heart muscle.
Is a CAD diagnosis proof of a past heart attack?
No. CAD is the underlying narrowing of the heart arteries. A heart attack happens when an artery becomes blocked suddenly, often on top of CAD.
Which ICD-10 code is used for CAD?
A common code is I25.10, for atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina. Other codes in the I25 group apply when angina, grafts or other details are documented.
Is CAD the same as CHF?
No. CAD is a problem with the arteries feeding the heart, while CHF is a weakness or stiffness of the heart's pumping. CAD ranks high among the causes of CHF.
What does CAD mean on a mammogram report?
On imaging reports, CAD may refer to computer aided detection, software that marks areas for the radiologist to review. It is not a diagnosis of heart disease.