2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E88.AWasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition
ICD-10-CM Codes›E00–E89›E70-E88›E88
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not a Principal Diagnosis
- Chronic Condition
E88.A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for wasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. Coders also document this condition as wasting disease. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other general signs and symptoms and Other specified and unspecified nutritional and metabolic disorders.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for E88.A.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Wasting disease
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Cachexia due to underlying condition
Code First
- underlying condition
Type 1 Excludes
Type 2 Excludes
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
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.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- due to
- malnutrition - See Also: Malnutrition, severe; - E88.A
- underlying condition - E88.A
- Disease, diseased - See Also: Syndrome;
- wasting NEC - E88.A
- due to
- underlying condition - E88.A
- Syndrome - See Also: Disease;
- Wasting
- disease (syndrome) - E88.A
- due to
- underlying condition - E88.A
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Cachexia
- due to
- malnutrition
- Cachexia
- due to
- underlying condition
- Disease, diseased
- wasting NEC
- Disease, diseased
- wasting NEC
- due to
- underlying condition
- Syndrome
- wasting (syndrome) due to underlying condition
- Wasting
- disease (syndrome)
- Wasting
- disease (syndrome)
- due to
- underlying condition
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Code History & ChangesHistory
Replacement E88.A replaces the following previously assigned code(s):
- R64 - Cachexia
Questions About E88.AOverview
Is E88.A (Other and unspecified metabolic disorders) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report wasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Can E88.A be a principal diagnosis?
No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because wasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.
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.
