ADHF
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Acute decompensated heart failure |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ADHF stands for Acute decompensated heart failure, a cardiology abbreviation.
Sudden or gradually worsening heart failure symptoms severe enough to need urgent care, usually from fluid overload. Triggers include missed medications, dietary salt, atrial fibrillation, ischemia, infection and uncontrolled blood pressure, and treatment centers on intravenous diuretics and correcting the trigger.
Example: Admitted for ADHF after running out of furosemide; started IV diuresis with a goal of net negative 2 L daily.
Usage notes
Clinicians often describe ADHF with "warm or cold" (perfusion) and "wet or dry" (congestion) profiles, a bedside scheme associated with Lynne Stevenson; most admissions are "warm and wet." Heart failure hospitalizations carry high readmission rates, which the US Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program penalizes. European literature more often writes AHF (acute heart failure).
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- AAA – Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- ABI – Ankle-brachial index
- ABPM – Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- ACC – American College of Cardiology
- ACHD – Adult congenital heart disease
- ACS – Acute coronary syndrome
- AED – Automated external defibrillator
- AF – Atrial fibrillation
- AFib – Atrial fibrillation
- AFL – Atrial flutter
- AHA – American Heart Association
- AI – Aortic insufficiency
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.