J44.1 – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

ICD-10-CM code J44.1 signifies Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with exacerbation. This guide covers its clinical details, billing, FAQs, and more.

By Alex King on Jul 16, 2025.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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J44.1 Diagnosis Code: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

The J44.1 is an ICD code included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM, for short). It is used to designate “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation.”

This diagnosis code is meant to be used on patients who are confirmed to have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (or COPD for short), which is a type of respiratory problem that impacts a person’s lungs, making it harder for them to breathe while gradually making that particular condition worsen over time. Speaking of a condition worsening over time, that’s what the “(acute) exacerbation” stands for. That means the person’s airway functions and respiratory symptoms are suddenly deteriorating.

Is the J44.1 billable?

Yes, the J44.1 ICD-10 code is billable and can be used to designate a patient for reimbursement purposes.

J44.1 clinical information

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as we mentioned earlier, is a type of respiratory problem that severely and gradually impacts a person’s lungs, especially their airflow. A person with COPD will have one or both of the following problems (commonly both):

Chronic Bronchitis - This condition impacts the airways because they become irritated or inflamed. An irritated or inflamed airway will cause its linings to swell and produce mucus.
Emphysema - This condition damages the air sacs and the walls of the airway. They also become less elastic than they’re supposed to be.

Those who have COPD have the following symptoms:

Frequent coughing (sometimes with phlegm)
Tightness in the chest, especially when they cough
Shortness of breath, especially after physical activity (the activity may not even be intensive)
A whistling or squeaky sound when they breathe
They wheeze, especially when breathing through the mouth

Treatment options for COPD depend on the severity of the condition. Bronchodilators and antibiotics can help. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs can be implemented, and lifestyle changes should be suggested, especially if the patient is a smoker. For severe cases, oxygen therapy and/or surgery might be the best ways to treat COPD.

J44.1 synonyms include:

Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
Acute exacerbation of chronic asthmatic bronchitis
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive airways disease
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive airways disease with asthma
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive bronchitis
Asthmatic bronchitis
Chronic asthmatic bronchitis
Chronic obstructive asthma co-occurrent with acute exacerbation of asthma
Emphysematous bronchitis
Obstruction of bronchus

Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

J44 - Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
J44.0 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection
J44.1 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation
J44.9 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

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