The essentials

CHF means congestive heart failure: the heart does not pump as well as the body needs. It does not mean the heart has stopped. Many records now simply write HF.

What does CHF stand for in medical terms?

CHF = congestive heart failure, a long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body's needs[1]. "Failure" does not mean the heart has stopped[1]. "Congestive" refers to the fluid that backs up into the lungs, legs or belly[2]. More than 6 million adults in the United States live with heart failure[1]. For symptoms and treatment, see our congestive heart failure guide.

Where will you see CHF on your medical records?

Fictitious example of a visit summary (United States format)
SectionEntryPlain meaning
Problem listCHF, HFrEF (EF 35%), NYHA class IIHeart failure with a weak pump; mild limits on activity
Lab orderBNP, BMP. Indication: CHF follow-up, on diureticHeart strain marker, plus kidney and potassium check
  1. EF is the ejection fraction, the share of blood pumped out at each beat. HFrEF means 40% or less; HFpEF means 50% or more[3][4].
  2. NYHA class I to IV grades how much symptoms limit daily activity[3].

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Which abbreviations get confused with CHF?

  • HF: heart failure. Current guidelines write HF[3][4]; CHF is the older name for the same condition[2].
  • CHD: coronary heart disease[5] or congenital heart defect[6]. One letter apart, different meaning. See coronary artery disease.
  • CCF: congestive cardiac failure, the British and Australian wording for CHF.
  • HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF: types of heart failure by ejection fraction[4].
  • CRF, CKD: kidney failure, often listed next to CHF; see chronic kidney disease.

Safety experts advise spelling out any abbreviation that could be misread[7]. If unsure, ask.

What is CHF called in other languages?

  • French: IC (insuffisance cardiaque), formerly ICC
  • Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil): IC or ICC (insuficiencia / insuficiência cardíaca congestiva)
  • Italian: SC (scompenso cardiaco)
  • German: HI (Herzinsuffizienz)
  • Dutch: hartfalen, or decompensatio cordis
  • Romanian: IC or ICC (insuficiență cardiacă)
  • Chinese: 充血性心力衰竭 (心衰); Arabic: قصور القلب الاحتقاني

Which tests and conditions are linked to CHF?

The main blood tests are BNP and NT-proBNP: the heart releases more of them when it works harder[8]. An echocardiogram measures the ejection fraction[3]; see how heart failure is diagnosed. Common causes include high blood pressure (HTN) and a past heart attack[1]. Usual signs: shortness of breath (SOB) and swollen ankles. Sudden severe breathlessness or chest pain is an emergency: call 911.

References

  1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart failure. nhlbi.nih.gov (accessed November 12, 2026)
  2. MedlinePlus. Heart failure (congestive heart failure, CHF). National Library of Medicine. medlineplus.gov (accessed November 12, 2026)
  3. Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure. Circulation. 2022;145(18):e895-e1032. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001063 (accessed November 12, 2026)
  4. Bozkurt B, Coats AJS, Tsutsui H, et al. Universal definition and classification of heart failure. J Card Fail. 2021;27(4):387-413. doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2021.01.022 (accessed November 12, 2026)
  5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Coronary heart disease. nhlbi.nih.gov (accessed November 12, 2026)
  6. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Congenital heart defects. nhlbi.nih.gov (accessed November 12, 2026)
  7. Institute for Safe Medication Practices. List of error-prone abbreviations. ecri.org (accessed November 12, 2026)
  8. MedlinePlus. Natriuretic peptide tests (BNP, NT-proBNP). National Library of Medicine. medlineplus.gov (accessed November 12, 2026)

General information only; it does not replace your doctor's advice.