Which medical term refers to the inability of the heart to pump efficiently?

The term that best describes the inability of the heart to pump efficiently is heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention. It can result from various causes, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and previous heart attacks, ultimately leading to a diminished ability of the heart muscle to function properly.

While the other terms are related to heart function and health, they do not specifically define the condition of inefficient pumping. Pulmonary edema refers to fluid accumulation in the lungs, often resulting from heart failure, but it does not define the underlying issue of the heart's pumping ability. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure but is not synonymous with it. Arrhythmia describes irregular heart rhythms that may affect the heart's ability to pump effectively, but it does not specifically denote the condition of heart failure. Thus, heart failure is the most accurate representation of the heart's inefficiency in pumping blood.