The CHD medical abbreviation has two common meanings: coronary heart disease, where the arteries feeding the heart muscle narrow, and congenital heart disease, a heart problem present from birth. The two are completely different conditions, so the age of the patient and the type of clinic usually settle which one is meant.
In adult primary care, cardiology and risk factor lists, CHD nearly always means coronary heart disease, which is used almost interchangeably with CAD. In pediatric cardiology, newborn care and adult congenital clinics, it means a structural heart defect someone was born with. This page walks through both meanings, shows sample lines, and lists the clues that tell them apart.
At a glance
Stands for
Coronary heart disease (adult care)Other meanings
Congenital heart disease (pediatric and congenital cardiology)Close relative
CAD, coronary artery disease, often used as a synonymClue to meaning
Patient age, risk factor lists, and whether a birth defect is describedWhere you see it
Problem lists, family history, cardiology and pediatric notesSafer to write
The full words when a reader might not know the setting
The two meanings of the CHD medical abbreviation
Coronary heart disease means the coronary arteries, the vessels on the surface of the heart that supply its muscle with blood, have become narrowed or blocked, usually by fatty plaque. It can cause chest pain called angina and can lead to a heart attack. Doctors in many countries also use the phrase ischemic heart disease, written IHD, for much the same thing.
Congenital heart disease means the heart or its main vessels formed differently before birth. Examples include a hole between the heart chambers, such as a VSD, or a vessel that should have closed after birth but did not, such as a PDA. Some defects are minor and close on their own; others need surgery in infancy.
Telling coronary from congenital in a note
| Clue | Coronary heart disease | Congenital heart disease |
|---|---|---|
| Typical age | Middle aged and older adults | Newborns, children, or adults born with a defect |
| Words nearby | Angina, stent, cholesterol, MI | Repair, murmur since birth, septal defect |
| Team | Adult cardiology, primary care | Pediatric cardiology, congenital heart clinic |
| Tests listed | Stress test, heart catheterization | Echocardiogram, fetal echo |
When a single note could fit either reading, the safest approach is to ask the writer, or for the writer to spell the words out.
Sample lines with CHD
Family history in an adult note: "Family hx of premature CHD in father." This points to coronary heart disease in a parent at a younger age than usual, which counts as a risk factor for the patient.
Pediatric referral: "Infant with suspected CHD, murmur and poor feeding, echo requested." Here CHD means a possible heart defect present from birth, and an echocardiogram will look at the heart structure.
Notice how the same three letters become clear once you read the rest of the line.
How CHD relates to CAD, IHD and ASHD
Adult cardiology has several overlapping names for narrowed heart arteries. CAD focuses on the arteries themselves. CHD and IHD focus on the effect on the heart muscle. ASHD, atherosclerotic heart disease, names the plaque process and is common in coding. In everyday notes these are often used as near synonyms, and the care plan is much the same.
None of these overlap with congenital heart disease, which is about how the heart was built rather than plaque building up over time.
Why CHD stays in risk factor lists
Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, so it appears constantly in screening and prevention work. Clinicians record known CHD, a family history of early CHD, and the risk factors that feed it, such as HTN for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. A patient with established CHD is usually treated as high risk when choosing cholesterol and blood pressure targets.
For more cardiac and other condition shorthand, see the diagnosis abbreviations page.
These are general definitions only. Ask your own cardiologist or primary care clinician which meaning applies in your record and what it means for your care.
Frequently asked questions
Does CHD mean coronary heart disease or congenital heart disease?
It can mean either. In adult notes and risk factor lists it usually means coronary heart disease. In pediatric or congenital cardiology it usually means a heart defect present from birth.
Is CHD the same as CAD?
Coronary heart disease and coronary artery disease are used almost interchangeably in adult care. CAD stresses the narrowed arteries, while CHD stresses the effect on the heart, but the treatment discussion is usually the same.
Is CHD the same as CHF?
No. CHF means congestive heart failure, a pumping problem that can follow many causes. Coronary heart disease is one possible cause of heart failure, but the two terms are not interchangeable.
Can adults have congenital heart disease?
Yes. Many children born with heart defects now grow into adulthood, and they are often followed in adult congenital heart clinics. In those clinics, CHD keeps its congenital meaning.