Note: You are viewing the development version of Schema.org. See how we work for more details.

MedicalCause

A Schema.org Type
Thing > MedicalEntity > MedicalCause
The causative agent(s) that are responsible for the pathophysiologic process that eventually results in a medical condition, symptom or sign. In this schema, unless otherwise specified this is meant to be the proximate cause of the medical condition, symptom or sign. The proximate cause is defined as the causative agent that most directly results in the medical condition, symptom or sign. For example, the HIV virus could be considered a cause of AIDS. Or in a diagnostic context, if a patient fell and sustained a hip fracture and two days later sustained a pulmonary embolism which eventuated in a cardiac arrest, the cause of the cardiac arrest (the proximate cause) would be the pulmonary embolism and not the fall. Medical causes can include cardiovascular, chemical, dermatologic, endocrine, environmental, gastroenterologic, genetic, hematologic, gynecologic, iatrogenic, infectious, musculoskeletal, neurologic, nutritional, obstetric, oncologic, otolaryngologic, pharmacologic, psychiatric, pulmonary, renal, rheumatologic, toxic, traumatic, or urologic causes; medical conditions can be causes as well.
PropertyExpected TypeDescription
Properties from MedicalCause
causeOf MedicalEntity The condition, complication, symptom, sign, etc. caused.
Properties from MedicalEntity
code MedicalCode A medical code for the entity, taken from a controlled vocabulary or ontology such as ICD-9, DiseasesDB, MeSH, SNOMED-CT, RxNorm, etc.
funding Grant A Grant that directly or indirectly provide funding or sponsorship for this item. See also ownershipFundingInfo.
Inverse property: fundedItem
guideline MedicalGuideline A medical guideline related to this entity.
legalStatus DrugLegalStatus  or
MedicalEnumeration  or
Text		 The drug or supplement's legal status, including any controlled substance schedules that apply.
medicineSystem MedicineSystem The system of medicine that includes this MedicalEntity, for example 'evidence-based', 'homeopathic', 'chiropractic', etc.
recognizingAuthority Organization If applicable, the organization that officially recognizes this entity as part of its endorsed system of medicine.
relevantSpecialty MedicalSpecialty If applicable, a medical specialty in which this entity is relevant.
study MedicalStudy A medical study or trial related to this entity.
Properties from Thing
additionalType Text  or
URL		 An additional type for the item, typically used for adding more specific types from external vocabularies in microdata syntax. This is a relationship between something and a class that the thing is in. Typically the value is a URI-identified RDF class, and in this case corresponds to the use of rdf:type in RDF. Text values can be used sparingly, for cases where useful information can be added without their being an appropriate schema to reference. In the case of text values, the class label should follow the schema.org style guide.
alternateName Text An alias for the item.
description Text  or
TextObject		 A description of the item.
disambiguatingDescription Text A sub property of description. A short description of the item used to disambiguate from other, similar items. Information from other properties (in particular, name) may be necessary for the description to be useful for disambiguation.
identifier PropertyValue  or
Text  or
URL		 The identifier property represents any kind of identifier for any kind of Thing, such as ISBNs, GTIN codes, UUIDs etc. Schema.org provides dedicated properties for representing many of these, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links. See background notes for more details.
image ImageObject  or
URL		 An image of the item. This can be a URL or a fully described ImageObject.
mainEntityOfPage CreativeWork  or
URL		 Indicates a page (or other CreativeWork) for which this thing is the main entity being described. See background notes for details.
Inverse property: mainEntity
name Text The name of the item.
potentialAction Action Indicates a potential Action, which describes an idealized action in which this thing would play an 'object' role.
sameAs URL URL of a reference Web page that unambiguously indicates the item's identity. E.g. the URL of the item's Wikipedia page, Wikidata entry, or official website.
subjectOf CreativeWork  or
Event		 A CreativeWork or Event about this Thing.
Inverse property: about
url URL URL of the item.

Examples

Example 1
Copied
No Markup Microdata RDFa JSON-LD Structure
Example notes or example HTML without markup.
<h1>Stable angina (angina pectoris)</h1>
Stable angina is a medical condition that affects the heart. The
most common causes are atherosclerosis and spasms of the
epicardial artery. Typical symptoms include:
<ul>
  <li>chest discomfort</li>
  <li>feeling of tightness, heaviness, or pain in the chest</li>
</ul>
Both stable angina and a heart attack result in chest pain, but
a heart attack will have chest pain lasting at least
10 minutes at rest, repeated episodes of chest pain at rest
lasting 5 or more minutes, or an accelerating pattern of chest
discomfort (episodes that are more frequent, severe,
longer in duration, and precipitated by minimal exertion).
<br>
Risk factors for stable angina include:
<ul>
  <li>Age</li>
  <li>Gender</li>
  <li>Systolic blood pressure</li>
  <li>Smoking</li>
  <li>Total cholesterol and/or cholesterol:HDL ratio</li>
  <li>Coronary artery disease</li>
</ul>
The initial treatment for stable angina is usually drug therapy
with aspirin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and/or nitroglycerine.
Future episodes of stable angina can sometimes be prevented by
stopping smoking, weight management, and increased physical activity.
Example encoded as Microdata embedded in HTML.
<div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
  <h1><span itemprop="name">Stable angina</span>
    (<span itemprop="alternateName">angina pectoris</span>)</h1>
  <span itemprop="code" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalCode">
    <meta itemprop="code" content="413"/>
    <meta itemprop="codingSystem" content="ICD-9"/>
  </span>
  Stable angina is a medical condition that affects the
  <span itemprop="associatedAnatomy" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/AnatomicalStructure">
    <span itemprop="name">heart</span>
  </span>.
  The most common causes are
  <span itemprop="cause" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalCause">
    <span itemprop="name">atherosclerosis</span>
  </span>
  and
  <span itemprop="cause" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalCause">
    <span itemprop="name">spasms of the epicardial artery</span>
  </span>.
  Typical symptoms include:
  <ul>
    <li><span itemprop="signOrSymptom" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalSymptom">
          <span itemprop="name">chest discomfort</span>
        </span>
    </li>
    <li><span itemprop="signOrSymptom" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalSymptom">
          <span itemprop="name">feeling of tightness, heaviness,
            or pain in the chest</span>
        </span>
    </li>
  </ul>
  Both stable angina and a
  <span itemprop="differentialDiagnosis" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/DDxElement">
    <span itemprop="diagnosis" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
      <span itemprop="name">heart attack</span>
    </span>
    result in chest pain, but a heart attack will have
    <span itemprop="distinguishingSign" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalSymptom">
      <span itemprop="name">chest pain lasting at least 10 minutes at rest</span>
    </span>,
    <span itemprop="distinguishingSign" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalSymptom">
      <span itemprop="name">repeated episodes of chest pain at rest
        lasting 5 or more minutes
      </span>
    </span>, or
    <span itemprop="distinguishingSign" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalSymptom">
      <span itemprop="name">an accelerating pattern of
        chest discomfort (episodes that are more frequent, severe,
        longer in duration, and precipitated by minimal exertion)
      </span>
    </span>
  </span>.
  <br>
  Risk factors for stable angina include:
  <ul>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Age</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Gender</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Systolic blood pressure</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Smoking</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Total cholesterol and/or cholesterol:HDL ratio</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span itemprop="riskFactor" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span itemprop="name">Coronary artery disease</span>
        </span></li>
  </ul>
  The initial treatment for stable angina is usually drug therapy
  with
  <span itemprop="possibleTreatment" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Drug">
    <span itemprop="name">aspirin</span>
  </span>,
  <span itemprop="possibleTreatment" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/DrugClass">
    <span itemprop="name">beta blockers</span>
  </span>,
  <span itemprop="possibleTreatment" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/DrugClass">
    <span itemprop="name">ACE inhibitors</span>
  </span>, and/or
  <span itemprop="possibleTreatment" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Drug">
    <span itemprop="name">nitroglycerine</span>
  </span>,
  Future episodes of stable angina can sometimes be prevented by
  <span itemprop="secondaryPrevention" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/LifestyleModification">
    <span itemprop="name">stopping smoking</span>
  </span>,
  <span itemprop="secondaryPrevention" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/LifestyleModification">
    <span itemprop="name">weight management</span>
  </span>, and
  <span itemprop="secondaryPrevention" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/LifestyleModification">
    <span itemprop="name">increased physical activity</span>
  </span>.
</div>
Example encoded as RDFa embedded in HTML.
<div vocab="https://schema.org/" typeof="MedicalCondition">
  <h1><span property="name">Stable angina</span>
    (<span property="alternateName">angina pectoris</span>)</h1>
  <span property="code"  typeof="MedicalCode">
    <meta property="code" content="413"/>
    <meta property="codingSystem" content="ICD-9"/>
  </span>
  Stable angina is a medical condition that affects the
  <span property="associatedAnatomy"  typeof="AnatomicalStructure">
    <span property="name">heart</span>
  </span>.
  The most common causes are
  <span property="cause"  typeof="MedicalCause">
    <span property="name">atherosclerosis</span>
  </span>
  and
  <span property="cause"  typeof="MedicalCause">
    <span property="name">spasms of the epicardial artery</span>
  </span>.
  Typical symptoms include:
  <ul>
    <li><span property="signOrSymptom"  typeof="MedicalSymptom">
          <span property="name">chest discomfort</span>
        </span>
    </li>
    <li><span property="signOrSymptom"  typeof="MedicalSymptom">
          <span property="name">feeling of tightness, heaviness,
            or pain in the chest</span>
        </span>
    </li>
  </ul>
  Both stable angina and a
  <span property="differentialDiagnosis"  typeof="DDxElement">
    <span property="diagnosis"  typeof="MedicalCondition">
      <span property="name">heart attack</span>
    </span>
    result in chest pain, but a heart attack will have
    <span property="distinguishingSign"  typeof="MedicalSymptom">
      <span property="name">chest pain lasting at least 10 minutes at rest</span>
    </span>,
    <span property="distinguishingSign"  typeof="MedicalSymptom">
      <span property="name">repeated episodes of chest pain at rest
        lasting 5 or more minutes
      </span>
    </span>, or
    <span property="distinguishingSign"  typeof="MedicalSymptom">
      <span property="name">an accelerating pattern of
        chest discomfort (episodes that are more frequent, severe,
        longer in duration, and precipitated by minimal exertion)
      </span>
    </span>
  </span>.
  <br>
  Risk factors for stable angina include:
  <ul>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Age</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Gender</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Systolic blood pressure</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Smoking</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Total cholesterol and/or cholesterol:HDL ratio</span>
        </span></li>
    <li><span property="riskFactor"  typeof="MedicalRiskFactor">
          <span property="name">Coronary artery disease</span>
        </span></li>
  </ul>
  The initial treatment for stable angina is usually drug therapy
  with
  <span property="possibleTreatment"  typeof="Drug">
    <span property="name">aspirin</span>
  </span>,
  <span property="possibleTreatment"  typeof="DrugClass">
    <span property="name">beta blockers</span>
  </span>,
  <span property="possibleTreatment"  typeof="DrugClass">
    <span property="name">ACE inhibitors</span>
  </span>, and/or
  <span property="possibleTreatment"  typeof="Drug">
    <span property="name">nitroglycerine</span>
  </span>,
  Future episodes of stable angina can sometimes be prevented by
  <span property="secondaryPrevention"  typeof="LifestyleModification">
    <span property="name">stopping smoking</span>
  </span>,
  <span property="secondaryPrevention"  typeof="LifestyleModification">
    <span property="name">weight management</span>
  </span>, and
  <span property="secondaryPrevention"  typeof="LifestyleModification">
    <span property="name">increased physical activity</span>
  </span>.
</div>
Example encoded as JSON-LD in a HTML script tag.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MedicalCondition",
  "alternateName": "angina pectoris",
  "associatedAnatomy": {
    "@type": "AnatomicalStructure",
    "name": "heart"
  },
  "cause": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalCause",
      "name": "atherosclerosis"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalCause",
      "name": "spasms of the epicardial artery"
    }
  ],
  "code": {
    "@type": "MedicalCode",
    "code": "413",
    "codingSystem": "ICD-9"
  },
  "differentialDiagnosis": {
    "@type": "DDxElement",
    "diagnosis": {
      "@type": "MedicalCondition",
      "name": "heart attack"
    },
    "distinguishingSign": [
      {
        "@type": "MedicalSymptom",
        "name": "chest pain lasting at least 10 minutes at rest"
      },
      {
        "@type": "MedicalSymptom",
        "name": "repeated episodes of chest pain at rest lasting 5 or more minutes"
      },
      {
        "@type": "MedicalSymptom",
        "name": "an accelerating pattern of chest discomfort (episodes that are more frequent, severe, longer in duration, and precipitated by minimal exertion)"
      }
    ]
  },
  "name": "Stable angina",
  "possibleTreatment": [
    {
      "@type": "Drug",
      "name": "aspirin"
    },
    {
      "@type": "DrugClass",
      "name": "beta blockers"
    },
    {
      "@type": "DrugClass",
      "name": "ACE inhibitors"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Drug",
      "name": "nitroglycerine"
    }
  ],
  "riskFactor": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Age"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Gender"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Systolic blood pressure"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Smoking"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Total cholesterol and/or cholesterol:HDL ratio"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalRiskFactor",
      "name": "Coronary artery disease"
    }
  ],
  "secondaryPrevention": [
    {
      "@type": "LifestyleModification",
      "name": "stopping smoking"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LifestyleModification",
      "name": "weight management"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LifestyleModification",
      "name": "increased physical activity"
    }
  ],
  "signOrSymptom": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalSymptom",
      "name": "chest discomfort"
    },
    {
      "@type": "MedicalSymptom",
      "name": "feeling of tightness, heaviness, or pain in the chest"
    }
  ]
}
</script>
Structured representation of the JSON-LD example.