pk-yr

Medical abbreviation · Medical Documentation

pk-yr
Stands forPack-year
CategoriesMedical

pk-yr stands for Pack-year, a medical documentation abbreviation.

Measure of lifetime cigarette exposure, calculated as packs smoked per day multiplied by years of smoking; 1 pack a day for 20 years equals 20 pack-years. It sets eligibility for lung cancer screening.

Example: 45 pk-yr history, quit 2019; eligible for annual low-dose CT.

Usage notes

Also written pack-yr or PY. The US Preventive Services Task Force (2021) recommends yearly low-dose CT for adults 50 to 80 with at least 20 pack-years who smoke now or quit within 15 years. A pack is usually 20 cigarettes.

More medical documentation abbreviations

  • O/E – On examination
  • OLDCARTS – Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving…
  • PC – Presenting complaint
  • PCP – Primary care provider
  • PE – Physical examination
  • PIE – Problem, Intervention, Evaluation
  • PMH – Past medical history
  • PN – Progress note
  • POA – Present on admission
  • POC – Plan of care
  • PPD – Packs per day
  • ppx – Prophylaxis

See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.