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What Does HDU Mean in Medical Terms?
HDU stands for high dependency unit. Unit for patients needing more care than a ward.
high dependency unit
Unit for patients needing more care than a ward.
Where you will see HDU
You will most often see HDU in emergency department and intensive care records, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.
Example
A chart note might use “HDU” as shorthand for high dependency unit when documenting a patient's care.
Related abbreviations
- 1:1 — one-to-one observation
- 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
- 3% saline — three percent saline (hypertonic)
- 3D-CAM — 3-minute Diagnostic Confusion Assessment Method
- 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
- 4F-PCC — four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate
- 5150 — 5150 hold (California)
- 5150 hold eval — 72-hour hold evaluation
Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.
Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.