Cachexia (R64)
The ICD-10 code R64 is used specifically to identify cachexia, a condition characterized by severe weight loss and muscle wasting related to chronic illnesses. This code helps healthcare providers document and treat the systemic loss of body mass not explained by simple malnutrition.
Cachexia includes various forms such as muscle cachexia, cardiac cachexia, and the AIDS wasting syndrome, reflecting its association with serious diseases like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The condition is marked by abnormal weight loss, fat distribution changes, and often severe tissue wasting, which distinguishes it from normal weight loss or anorexia. Medical coders rely on R64 when documenting cases that involve symptoms like emaciation, metabolic wasting syndrome, or malignant cachexia, ensuring accurate coding for patients with systemic illness-related weight loss. When searching for the ICD-10 code for cachexia or related terms such as “abnormal weight loss associated with AIDS,” R64 is the specific code that facilitates consistent documentation and clinical communication.
Instructional Notations
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.
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Cachexia
General ill health, malnutrition, and weight loss, usually associated with chronic disease.
