Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I51

Complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease

ICD-10-CM Code:
I51
ICD-10 Code for:
Complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the circulatory system
    (I00–I99)
    • Other forms of heart disease
      (I30-I5A)
      • Complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease
        (I51)

I51 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease

Non-specific codes like I51 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease:

  • Use I51.0 for Cardiac septal defect, acquired - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.1 for Rupture of chordae tendineae, not elsewhere classified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.2 for Rupture of papillary muscle, not elsewhere classified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.3 for Intracardiac thrombosis, not elsewhere classified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.4 for Myocarditis, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.5 for Myocardial degeneration - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.7 for Cardiomegaly - BILLABLE CODE

  • I51.8 for Other ill-defined heart diseases - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.81 for Takotsubo syndrome - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.89 for Other ill-defined heart diseases - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use I51.9 for Heart disease, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

Patient Education


Heart Diseases

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a general term that includes many types of heart problems. It's also called cardiovascular disease, which means heart and blood vessel disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there are ways to prevent and manage many types of heart disease.

What are the types of heart disease?

There are many different types of heart disease. Some you may be born with, called congenital heart disease. Other types develop during your lifetime.

Coronary artery disease (also called coronary heart disease) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens slowly over time when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply your heart muscle with blood. The plaque narrows or blocks blood flow to the heart muscle and can lead to other heart problems:

  • Angina - chest pain from lack of blood flow
  • Heart attacks - when part of the heart muscle dies from loss of blood flow
  • Heart failure - when your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs
  • Arrhythmia - a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat

Other types of heart diseases may affect your heart valves or heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).

What causes heart diseases?

The causes of heart disease depend on the type of disease. Some possible causes include lifestyle, genetics, infections, medicines, and other diseases.

Who is more likely to develop heart diseases?

There are many different factors that can make you more likely to develop heart disease. Some of these factors you can change, but others you cannot.

  • Age. Your risk of heart disease goes up as you get older.
  • Sex. Some factors may affect heart disease risk differently in women than in men.
  • Family history and genetics. A family history of early heart disease raises your risk of heart disease. And research has shown that some genes are linked to a higher risk of certain heart diseases.
  • Race/ethnicity. Certain groups have higher risks than others.
  • Lifestyle habits. Over time, unhealthy lifestyle habits can raise your risk heart disease:
    • Eating a diet high in saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and salt.
    • Not getting enough physical activity.
    • Drinking too much alcohol.
    • Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
    • Too much stress.
  • Having other medical conditions can raise your risk of heart diseases. These conditions include:
    • High blood pressure.
    • High cholesterol levels.
    • Diabetes.
    • Obesity.
    • Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
    • Chronic kidney disease.
    • Metabolic syndrome.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Your symptoms will depend on the type of heart disease you have. You may not have symptoms at first. In some cases, you may not know you have heart disease until you have a complication such as a heart attack.

How are heart diseases diagnosed?

To find out if you have heart disease, your health care provider will:

  • Ask about your medical history, including your symptoms
  • Ask about your family health history, including relatives who have had heart disease
  • Do a physical exam
  • Likely run heart tests and blood tests

In some cases, your provider may refer you to a cardiologist (a doctor who specializes in heart diseases) for tests, diagnosis, and care.

What are the treatments for heart disease?

Treatment plans for heart disease depend on the type of heart disease you have, how serious your symptoms are, and what other health conditions you have. Possible treatments may include:

  • Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
  • Medicines
  • Procedures or surgeries
  • Cardiac rehabilitation

Can heart diseases be prevented?

You may be able to lower your risk of certain heart diseases by making heart-healthy lifestyle changes and managing any other medical conditions you have.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.