Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (J44)
The ICD-10 code section J44 covers various forms of other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including cases with acute infections, exacerbations, and specific types like bronchiolitis obliterans. These codes help identify precise COPD conditions that are distinct from more common types.
Within this section, J44.0 is used for COPD accompanied by acute lower respiratory infections, often described as acute bronchitis or infective flare-ups. The code J44.1 applies to COPD with acute exacerbations, which might include terms like emphysematous bronchitis or asthmatic bronchitis flare-ups. For less common forms, J44.81 codes for bronchiolitis obliterans; a chronic obstructive condition sometimes called obliterative or chronic bronchiolitis. Other specified COPD types fall under J44.8 and J44.89. Finally, J44.9 is used when COPD is unspecified, covering a broad range of COPD-related conditions including asthma-COPD overlap and pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease. Understanding these distinctions aids accurate coding for different clinical scenarios related to COPD.
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00–J99)
Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J4A)
J44 Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- J44.0 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection
- J44.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation
J44.8 Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- J44.81 Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome
- J44.89 Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- J44.9 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (J44)
Instructional Notations
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- chronic asthmatic (obstructive) bronchitis
- chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction
- chronic bronchitis with emphysema
- chronic emphysematous bronchitis
- chronic obstructive asthma
- chronic obstructive bronchitis
- chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis
Code Also
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
- type of asthma, if applicable J45
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.
- chronic bronchitis NOS J42
- chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis J41
- chronic tracheitis J42
- chronic tracheobronchitis J42
Type 2 Excludes
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.
