Which term describes the condition when the heart's pumping ability is compromised?

The term that describes the condition when the heart's pumping ability is compromised is heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body's needs. This can result from various underlying issues, such as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, or previous heart attacks, which can weaken the heart muscle over time. Symptoms of heart failure may include fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid buildup in the lungs and other body tissues.

While cardiac arrest refers to the sudden loss of heart function, atrial fibrillation is a specific type of irregular heartbeat that can contribute to heart failure but does not in itself mean the heart's pumping ability is compromised. Cardiomyopathy describes a range of diseases affecting the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure, but it is not the term used to directly describe the compromised ability to pump blood. Thus, heart failure is the most accurate term for the compromised pumping ability of the heart.