2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D53.0Protein deficiency anemia

ICD-10-CM CodesD50–D89D50-D53D53

ICD-10-CM D53.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

D53.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for protein deficiency anemia. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 811 through 812. Coders also document this condition as anemia due to protein deficiency. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nutritional anemia.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
D53.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Protein deficiency anemia
Short Description
Protein deficiency anemia
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Other nutritional anemias

Code Classification

ChapterD50–D89Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism
SectionD50-D53Nutritional anemias
CategoryD53Other nutritional anemias
This CodeD53.0Protein deficiency anemia

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anemia due to protein deficiency
  • Non megaloblastic anemia associated with nutritional deficiency

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Amino-acid deficiency anemia
  • Orotaciduric anemia

Type 1 Excludes

  • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome E79.1

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Aciduria
      • orotic (congenital) (hereditary) (pyrimidine deficiency)
        • anemia
    • Amino-acid disorder
      • anemia
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • amino-acid-deficiency
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • deficiency
        • amino-acid
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • deficiency
        • protein
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • due to (in) (with)
        • deficiency
          • amino-acid
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • due to (in) (with)
        • deficiency
          • protein
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • megaloblastic
        • orotic aciduria
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • orotaciduric (congenital) (hereditary)
    • Anemia(essential) (general) (hemoglobin deficiency) (infantile) (primary) (profound)
      • protein-deficiency
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • protein
        • anemia
    • Orotaciduria, oroticaciduria(congenital) (hereditary) (pyrimidine deficiency)
      • anemia

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR BLD001
Nutritional anemia
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Anemia

If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert D53.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
281.4 Protein defic anemia
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About D53.0Overview

Is D53.0 (Other nutritional anemias) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report protein deficiency anemia on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does D53.0 group to?

When protein deficiency anemia is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 811, 812, with relative weights from 0.9182 to 1.4043 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of D53.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, protein deficiency anemia converts to ICD-9-CM 281.4 (protein defic anemia). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.