ABIM Cardiology study guide
ABIM Cardiology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABIM Cardiovascular Disease Certification Examination is a subspecialty certification assessment for physicians who are eligible to sit for an ABIM subspecialty examination and want to demonstrate the knowledge, clinical judgment, and skills essential for high-quality cardiovascular care. Passing it leads to ABIM diplomate status, and the certificate remains valid as long as the diplomate continues to participate in Maintenance of Certification. The ABIM Cardiology study guide has 10 sections and about 2,300 words.
01Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease includes stable obstructive disease, plaque rupture or erosion causing acute coronary syndrome, and microvascular or vasospastic angina. Candidates must distinguish supply-demand ischemia from acute plaque rupture, interpret high-sensitivity troponin kinetics against the 99th percentile, and recognize that one normal ECG does not exclude ACS.
285 words, about 1 min02Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy
Heart failure is a syndrome, not a single ejection fraction. HFrEF benefits from four medication pillars: ARNI, ACE inhibitor, or ARB; an evidence-based beta blocker; an MRA; and an SGLT2 inhibitor, plus diuretics for congestion.
260 words, about 1 min03Arrhythmias and Conduction Disorders
Arrhythmia questions test rate, regularity, QRS width, P-wave relationship, hemodynamic stability, and reversible triggers. Distinguish sinus tachycardia, AVNRT, AVRT, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, junctional rhythms, and ventricular tachycardia.
220 words, about 1 min04Valvular Heart Disease
Valvular disease teaching focuses on lesion severity, symptoms, ventricular response, and timing of intervention. Aortic stenosis is classified by valve area, gradient, velocity, and flow; symptoms or LV dysfunction define severe disease requiring intervention.
240 words, about 1 min05Pericardial and Myocardial Disease
Pericardial disease includes acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis. Myocardial disease includes myocarditis, stress cardiomyopathy, infiltrative disease, sarcoidosis, and toxin-related injury.
222 words, about 1 min06Vascular Disease and Hypertension
Vascular disease and hypertension questions cover accurate blood pressure measurement, primary versus secondary hypertension, resistant hypertension, hypertensive emergencies, aortic dissection, peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and venous thromboembolism. Secondary causes include primary aldosteronism, renal artery stenosis, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid disease, pheochromocytoma, and Cushing syndrome.
220 words, about 1 min07Pulmonary Circulatory Disorders
Pulmonary circulatory disorders include pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, lung disease or hypoxia, chronic thromboembolic disease, and miscellaneous causes. Group 1 PAH requires exclusion of other groups and may need vasoreactivity testing.
226 words, about 1 min08Congenital Heart Disease
Adult congenital heart disease questions emphasize shunt physiology, cyanosis, murmurs, and complications. ASD causes a fixed split S2 and right-heart volume overload; VSD causes a holosystolic murmur; PDA causes a continuous murmur.
211 words, about 1 min09Preventive Cardiology and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Preventive cardiology requires estimating ASCVD risk, modifying lifestyle, and choosing evidence-based pharmacotherapy. Statin intensity is matched to risk and LDL reduction.
210 words, about 1 min10Critical Care and Perioperative Cardiology
Critical care cardiology covers shock, respiratory failure, arrhythmia management, mechanical circulatory support, and perioperative risk. Cardiogenic shock requires rapid identification of congestion and hypoperfusion, early revascularization in ACS, and careful vasopressor or inotrope selection.
206 words, about 1 min