OLDCARTS
Medical abbreviation · Medical Documentation
| Stands for | Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity, a medical documentation abbreviation.
Mnemonic for the questions that build a history of present illness. Each letter is a feature of the symptom that should be asked about and documented.
Example: OLDCARTS: onset yesterday, epigastric, constant, burning, worse lying flat, relieved by antacids, nightly, 6/10.
Usage notes
Taught widely in physician assistant, nurse practitioner and medical school courses. Variants include OLD CARTS with an extra "A" for associated symptoms. Pain-focused alternatives include OPQRST in EMS and SOCRATES in the UK.
Related abbreviations
More medical documentation abbreviations
- Mx – Management
- N/V/D – Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- NFA – No further action
- NOK – Next of kin
- NOS – Not otherwise specified
- O/E – On examination
- PC – Presenting complaint
- PCP – Primary care provider
- PE – Physical examination
- PIE – Problem, Intervention, Evaluation
- pk-yr – Pack-year
- PMH – Past medical history
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.