Cardiology exam questions
3 exam-length papers covering every published domain for Cardiology.
DHA CRD57513 papers · 464 Qs
What is riding on this exam
~AED 1,030
Exam fee, per attempt
Published by DHA. Paid again on every re-sit.
3
Attempts - in total
The cap is three across all UAE authorities, not three each.
60%
Pass mark
Pass or fail only. Your score is never released.
One failed attempt costs you the fee again, plus months of delay on your licence, your visa and your start date. This bank costs about a 4th of one exam fee.
Try two questions from this bank
Real questions from the bank - pick an answer to see the rationale and reference.
Q1Cardiac Pharmacology and Therapeutics
A 34-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is started on bosentan. Which monitoring test is mandatory before and monthly during therapy?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
Q2Cardiac Pharmacology and Therapeutics
A 57-year-old man with HFrEF started spironolactone 25 mg daily 8 weeks ago. He now reports painful gynaecomastia but has tolerated the drug well otherwise with normal potassium. What is the most appropriate management?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
Not sure where you stand? Sit 25 of these questions free, timed at real exam pace, and see which domains you are weakest in.
Take the free mock exam →Liked those? The full bank has 464 questions at this standard - every one with a rationale and a reference.
Get the full bank - AED 289What's inside
- ✓3 full-length papers (~150 Q each)
- ✓464 questions, no overlap between papers
- ✓Four options, one unambiguous best answer
- ✓A full rationale on every question
- ✓A real guideline or textbook reference
- ✓Every sub-topic in the published blueprint
Exam route by authority
| Authority | Delivered by | Specialist title |
|---|---|---|
| DHA - Dubai | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| DOH - Abu Dhabi | Pearson VUE | Computer-based MCQ |
| MOHAP - Northern Emirates | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| SCFHS - Saudi Arabia | Prometric / Pearson | Computer-based MCQ |
| QCHP - Qatar | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| NHRA - Bahrain | Prometric | Computer-based MCQ |
| OMSB - Oman | Prometric | MCQ then oral viva |
Assessment mode depends on your licence title as well as your profession. Confirm your own route on your Sheryan / TAMM eligibility notice.
What the Cardiology exam covers
The published blueprint for this exam breaks into 13 domains and 232 testable sub-topics. Our bank covers every one of them - here is the full map, so you can see exactly what you are expected to know.
Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes~20% (SCFHS published: 20%; DHA lists 'Coronary Artery Disease' as a named coverage area)20 topics
- Atherosclerosis biology, plaque rupture versus plaque erosion, vulnerable plaque
- Stable angina: pretest probability, functional versus anatomical testing strategy, CCTA
- Chronic coronary syndromes: optimal medical therapy versus revascularisation (COURAGE, ISCHEMIA)
- Universal definition of myocardial infarction and the MI types 1-5
- High-sensitivity troponin algorithms (0/1h, 0/3h) and rule-out pathways
- STEMI: ECG criteria, STEMI equivalents, posterior MI, de Winter and Wellens patterns
- +14 more in the bank
Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies~14% (SCFHS: Cardiac Failure 15% and Cardiomyopathies 5% in the classification blueprint; 13% combined in the Fellowship final)20 topics
- Classification by ejection fraction: HFrEF, HFmrEF, HFpEF and their distinct evidence bases
- Natriuretic peptides: BNP/NT-proBNP thresholds, confounders (obesity, AF, CKD, sacubitril)
- Four-pillar HFrEF therapy: ARNI/ACEi/ARB, beta-blocker, MRA, SGLT2 inhibitor - sequencing and titration
- Diuretic strategy, diuretic resistance, sequential nephron blockade and ultrafiltration
- Ivabradine, hydralazine-nitrate, vericiguat, digoxin and iron replacement (ferric carboxymaltose)
- HFpEF: diagnosis (H2FPEF, HFA-PEFF), phenotyping and evidence-based therapy
- +14 more in the bank
Valvular Heart Disease and Infective Endocarditis~11% (SCFHS classification: Valvular Diseases 10%; Fellowship final 17%; DHA lists Valve Disease and Infective Endocarditis separately)18 topics
- Aortic stenosis: severity grading, low-flow low-gradient and paradoxical low-flow subtypes, dobutamine stress echo
- AVR timing in asymptomatic severe AS; SAVR versus TAVI decision-making and heart-team process
- TAVI complications: paravalvular leak, conduction block and pacemaker need, stroke, valve thrombosis
- Aortic regurgitation: acute versus chronic, LV dimension and EF thresholds for surgery
- Mitral stenosis: rheumatic aetiology, Wilkins score, percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty
- Primary (degenerative) mitral regurgitation: severity quantification, repair versus replacement
- +12 more in the bank
Arrhythmias, Electrophysiology and ECG Interpretation~10% (SCFHS published: Cardiac Arrhythmia 10%; DHA lists Arrhythmias)20 topics
- Systematic 12-lead ECG interpretation: axis, intervals, chamber enlargement, ischaemia patterns
- Narrow-complex tachycardia differentiation: AVNRT, AVRT, atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter
- Wide-complex tachycardia: VT versus SVT with aberrancy (Brugada and Vereckei algorithms)
- Atrial fibrillation: classification, rate versus rhythm control, early rhythm control (EAST-AFNET 4)
- AF stroke prevention: CHA2DS2-VASc, HAS-BLED, DOAC selection, dosing and renal adjustment
- Left atrial appendage occlusion and DOAC-ineligible patients
- +14 more in the bank
Cardiac Pharmacology and Therapeutics~7% (SCFHS published: 10% classification, 7% Fellowship final; DHA lists Cardiac Pharmacology)19 topics
- Antiplatelet agents: mechanisms, CYP2C19 and clopidogrel resistance, perioperative interruption
- Anticoagulants: warfarin pharmacogenetics and INR management, heparins, DOAC pharmacology
- Reversal agents: vitamin K, PCC, protamine, idarucizumab, andexanet alfa
- Fibrinolytics: alteplase, tenecteplase, streptokinase; absolute and relative contraindications
- Beta-blockers: cardioselectivity, vasodilating agents, contraindications and withdrawal
- ACE inhibitors, ARBs and ARNI: dosing, hyperkalaemia, angioedema, washout before sacubitril
- +13 more in the bank
Cardiovascular Imaging and Diagnostic Testing~6% (est. - not a separate DHA/SCFHS classification heading; embedded across sections and heavily represented in the Fellowship blueprint via clinical examination and basic sciences)16 topics
- Transthoracic echocardiography: standard views, chamber quantification, EF methods (Simpson biplane, 3D)
- Doppler principles, continuity equation, pressure half-time, PISA and regurgitant quantification
- Diastolic function assessment and estimation of LV filling pressures
- Strain imaging and global longitudinal strain in cardio-oncology and infiltrative disease
- Transoesophageal echocardiography: indications, safety, endocarditis, LAA thrombus, intraprocedural guidance
- Stress echocardiography: exercise and dobutamine protocols, viability and contractile reserve
- +10 more in the bank
Hypertension, Pulmonary Hypertension and Preventive Cardiology~6% (SCFHS Fellowship: Systemic/Pulmonary hypertension 5%; prevention content is est.)18 topics
- Blood pressure measurement technique, staging and diagnostic thresholds across guidelines
- Primary hypertension: initial evaluation, target organ damage and treatment targets (SPRINT)
- Secondary hypertension: renal artery stenosis, primary aldosteronism, phaeochromocytoma, Cushing, OSA, coarctation
- Resistant and refractory hypertension: adherence assessment, spironolactone, renal denervation
- Hypertensive emergency versus urgency: target organ injury and controlled BP reduction
- Hypertension in pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and the elderly
- +12 more in the bank
Pericardial Disease~3% (SCFHS published: Pericardial 5%; DHA lists Pericardial Disease)15 topics
- Acute pericarditis: diagnostic criteria, ECG stages, aetiologies including tuberculous and viral
- NSAID plus colchicine therapy, corticosteroid pitfalls and anakinra/rilonacept for refractory disease
- Recurrent and incessant pericarditis: risk factors, tapering strategy and duration of therapy
- Myopericarditis versus perimyocarditis: troponin elevation and exercise restriction
- Pericardial effusion: aetiology, size grading, echocardiographic assessment
- Cardiac tamponade: pulsus paradoxus, Beck triad, echocardiographic signs, haemodynamics
- +9 more in the bank
Adult Congenital Heart Disease~4% (SCFHS published: Congenital Heart Disease 5%)16 topics
- Atrial septal defect: subtypes, shunt quantification (Qp:Qs), closure indications, device versus surgery
- Ventricular septal defect: types, natural history, closure criteria and endocarditis risk
- Patent ductus arteriosus and patent foramen ovale; PFO closure after cryptogenic stroke (RoPE score)
- Atrioventricular septal defect and the Down syndrome patient
- Coarctation of the aorta: presentation, hypertension, re-coarctation, stenting and surveillance
- Bicuspid aortic valve and associated aortopathy
- +10 more in the bank
Aortic Disease and Peripheral Vascular Disease~5% (SCFHS Fellowship: Aortic disease/pregnancy 6%; classification blueprint lists Peripheral Vascular Disease 5%; DHA lists Peripheral Vascular Disease)16 topics
- Acute aortic syndromes: dissection, intramural haematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer
- Stanford and DeBakey classification; type A surgical versus type B medical/TEVAR management
- Acute dissection medical therapy: impulse control with beta-blockade before vasodilators
- Malperfusion syndromes, complicated type B dissection and endovascular repair
- Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm: growth rates, screening, intervention thresholds
- Heritable thoracic aortic disease: Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, vascular Ehlers-Danlos, familial TAAD
- +10 more in the bank
Systemic Disease, Cardio-Obstetrics and Special Populations~5% (SCFHS published: Systemic Diseases 5%; DHA lists Systemic Disease)18 topics
- Cardiorenal syndrome types 1-5; management of heart failure in advanced CKD and dialysis
- Cardiac manifestations of thyroid disease: thyrotoxic AF, myxoedema heart, amiodarone thyroid dysfunction
- Diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy; perioperative glycaemic and antiplatelet issues
- Connective tissue disease and the heart: SLE, Libman-Sacks endocarditis, antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic sclerosis: pulmonary hypertension, myocardial fibrosis, scleroderma renal crisis
- HIV-associated cardiovascular disease and antiretroviral metabolic effects
- +12 more in the bank
Basic Cardiovascular Sciences and Clinical Examination~4% (SCFHS Fellowship: Basic sciences/pathology/physiology 9%, Clinical examination 7%; not a separate DHA heading - est. weight for the licensure paper)17 topics
- Cardiac anatomy: chambers, coronary anatomy and dominance, conduction system, valve apparatus
- Cardiac cycle, pressure-volume loops, preload, afterload and contractility
- Frank-Starling mechanism, ventricular-arterial coupling and myocardial oxygen supply-demand
- Cardiac action potential, ion channels and the basis of antiarrhythmic drug action
- Excitation-contraction coupling, calcium handling and myofilament biology
- Autonomic and neurohormonal regulation: RAAS, sympathetic system, natriuretic peptides
- +11 more in the bank
Professionalism, Ethics, Patient Safety and Quality~5% (SCFHS published: Patient Safety 5% and Professionalism and Ethics 5%; DHA lists 'Professionalism and Ethics' as a named coverage area)19 topics
- Informed consent for cardiac procedures: PCI, TAVI, device implantation, risk disclosure
- Capacity assessment, surrogate decision-making and advance directives
- Confidentiality, data protection and the UAE/GCC health data regulations
- Breaking bad news and shared decision-making in advanced heart failure and futile intervention
- Do-not-resuscitate orders and device deactivation (ICD, LVAD) at end of life
- Cultural and religious considerations in GCC practice: family-centred consent, gender preferences, Ramadan fasting
- +13 more in the bank
Before you book your exam
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