What condition can heart catheterization effectively diagnose?

Heart catheterization is a diagnostic procedure primarily used to evaluate the heart's blood vessels and the overall function of the heart. It involves threading a thin tube (catheter) through a blood vessel to the heart. This technique allows physicians to directly visualize and assess the coronary arteries for blockages or narrowing, which are characteristic features of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and is caused by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Through heart catheterization, doctors can determine the presence and extent of any blockages, assess the severity of the disease, and guide further treatment options, such as medication management or the need for procedures like angioplasty or stenting.

Other conditions listed, such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, can contribute to the development of coronary artery disease but are not directly diagnosed through heart catheterization. Hypertension, while it is an important risk factor for heart disease, is usually diagnosed through blood pressure measurements rather than invasive procedures. Thus, heart catheterization is specifically effective for diagnosing coronary artery disease.