2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E44.1Mild protein-calorie malnutrition

ICD-10-CM Codes›E00–E89›E40-E46›E44

ICD-10-CM E44.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

E44.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for mild protein-calorie malnutrition. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 640 through 641. Coders also document this condition as malnutrition. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Malnutrition.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
E44.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Mild protein-calorie malnutrition
Short Description
Mild protein-calorie malnutrition
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
E44
Protein-calorie malnutrition of moderate and mild degree

Code Classification

ChapterE00–E89Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
SectionE40-E46Malnutrition
CategoryE44Protein-calorie malnutrition of moderate and mild degree
This CodeE44.1Mild protein-calorie malnutrition

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Malnutrition
  • Malnutrition of mild degree
  • Mild protein-calorie malnutrition

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

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

    • Malnutrition
      • degree
        • first
    • Malnutrition
      • degree
        • mild (protein)
    • Malnutrition
      • protein
        • calorie
          • mild
    • Malnutrition
      • protein
        • energy
          • mild

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR END008
Malnutrition
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Child Nutrition Disorders

    disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, occurring in children ages 2 to 12 years.

  • Fetal Nutrition Disorders

    disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, in the fetus in utero.

  • Infant Nutrition Disorders

    disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, occurring in infants ages 1 month to 24 months.

  • Malnutrition

    an imbalanced nutritional status resulting from insufficient intake of nutrients to meet normal physiological requirement.

  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition

    the lack of sufficient energy or protein to meet the body's metabolic demands, as a result of either an inadequate dietary intake of protein, intake of poor quality dietary protein, increased demands due to disease, or increased nutrient losses.

  • Severe Acute Malnutrition

    acute form of malnutrition which usually affects children, characterized by a very low weight for height (below -3z scores of the median world health organization standards), visible severe wasting, or occurrence of nutritional edema. it can be a direct or indirect cause of fatality in children suffering from diarrhea and pneumonia. do not confuse with starvation, a condition in which the body is not getting enough food, usually for extended periods of time.

  • Fetus

    the unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. in humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after conception until birth, as distinguished from the earlier embryo, mammalian.

Patient EducationClinical

Malnutrition

Malnutrition means that your body isn't getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. This can happen if you don't get enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats, eat too much unhealthy food, or don't get the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

The full article covers:

  • What is malnutrition?
  • What are the types of malnutrition?
  • What causes malnutrition?
  • Who is at risk for developing malnutrition?
  • What are the symptoms of malnutrition?
  • How is malnutrition diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for malnutrition?
  • Can malnutrition be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert E44.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
263.1 Malnutrition mild degree
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 E44.1Overview

Is E44.1 (Protein-calorie malnutrition of moderate and mild degree) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does E44.1 group to?

When mild protein-calorie malnutrition is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 640, 641, with relative weights from 0.7782 to 1.3356 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of E44.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, mild protein-calorie malnutrition converts to ICD-9-CM 263.1 (malnutrition mild degree). 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.