Dyspnea ICD-10-CM Codes
Here’s a complete guide to Dyspnea ICD-10-CM codes for 2023, including related codes, billability, clinical information, synonyms, etc.
Fact Checked by Nate Lacson.
What ICD-10 Codes are Used for Dyspnea
Dyspnea is when a patient has shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. There are different types depending on the cause or symptoms. Here’s a list of the most common ICD Codes for dyspnea:
R06.00: Dyspnea, unspecified
- Practitioners can use this code when the clinical information is unavailable or unknown.
- Note that one can only use this code in addition to a code with a specific diagnosis.
R06.01: Orthopnea
- Practitioners can use this code when a patient is having difficulties breathing while lying down due to fluid in the lungs, it’s called orthopnea.
- Note that one can only use this code in addition to a code with a specific diagnosis.
R06.02: Shortness of breath
- Practitioners can use this code if a patient can’t complete a sentence in a single breath or has difficulty breathing while exerting effort doing a simple activity.
- Note that one can only use this code in addition to a code with a specific diagnosis.
R06.03: Acute Respiratory Distress
- Practitioners can use this code if the patient has acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) wherein fluid builds in the patient's alveoli in the lungs, causing low blood oxygen.
- Note that one can only use this code in addition to a code with a specific diagnosis.
R06.09: Other forms of dyspnea
- Practitioners can use this code if the patient’s dyspnea doesn’t match the abovementioned codes.
- Note that one can only use this code in addition to a code with a specific diagnosis.
Which Dyspnea ICD codes are Billable:
All of the dyspnea ICD codes mentioned above are billable.
Clinical Information
- Dyspnea is a feeling of shortness of breath or inability to breathe deeply.
- The main symptom of dyspnea is labored breathing after strenuous exercise/activity for a few minutes or, if chronic, for an extended period. Aside from that, symptoms may be a feeling of shallow breathing, chest tightness, suffocation, or a noticeable change in breathing pattern after strenuous exercise.
- Causes may differ depending on the type of dyspnea a patient has. Change in location, heart failure, low blood pressure, pneumonia, a collapsed lung, a blood clot in the lungs, a severe allergic reaction, carbon monoxide poisoning, high elevation, stress/anxiety, and extreme temperature are just some of the causes of short-term dyspnea. On the other hand, chronic dyspnea is caused by lung cancer, obesity, pleural effusion, heart disease, COPD, scarring of lung tissue, and asthma.
- Diagnosis involves a practitioner conducting tests to check the patient’s airways and breathing via a physical evaluation, scans, blood tests, spirometry, and pulse oximetry. It’d be helpful if a practitioner had a copy of the patient’s medical history.
- To treat dyspnea, one has to consider the cause. Some common ones are steroids, pain medication, bronchodilators, and rehabilitation.
When to use a Dyspnea ICD code?Synonyms Include:
- Chronic dyspnea
- Difficulty breathing
- Nocturnal dyspnea
- Paroxysmal dyspnea
- Winded
- COVID-19
- Respiratory distress
.png)
Commonly asked questions
You can use a dyspnea ICD code after you’ve made an established diagnosis that may be causing the patient’s dyspnea.
All of the specific codes associated with dyspnea are billable.
Common treatments for dyspnea include steroids, medication, rehabilitation, and bronchodilators. Aside from these, practitioners may also recommend exercise and eating a balanced diet in addition to the treatments provided.
