Find comprehensive information on diagnosing a history of iron deficiency anemia. This resource covers relevant healthcare, clinical documentation, and medical coding terms including ICD-10 codes for iron deficiency anemia, past iron deficiency anemia, differential diagnosis of anemia, anemia in pregnancy, iron studies interpretation, microcytic anemia workup, and treatment response for iron deficiency. Learn about documenting a history of iron deficiency, coding resolved iron deficiency anemia, and best practices for accurate medical recordkeeping. Improve your understanding of iron deficiency anemia diagnosis and management with this clinically focused guide.
Also known as
Nutritional anemias
Covers various nutritional deficiencies causing anemia.
Aplastic and other anemias
Includes anemias not classified elsewhere, some related to iron.
Personal history of medical conditions
Codes indicating a past medical condition, including anemia.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the iron deficiency anemia currently present?
Yes
Do NOT code as history of. Code the active anemia (e.g., D50.x).
No
Is there any documented residual effect?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Iron deficiency anemia |
| Thalassemia minor |
| Sideroblastic anemia |
Coding anemia without specifying iron deficiency (e.g., using D64.9 instead of D50.9) leads to inaccurate data and reimbursement.
Incorrectly coding history of iron deficiency as active (D50.0-D50.8) can impact quality metrics and care plans.
Insufficient documentation supporting the history of iron deficiency anemia diagnosis makes coding validation and audit defense difficult.
Patient presents with a history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The patient reports previous episodes of fatigue, weakness, pallor, and shortness of breath, consistent with iron deficiency anemia symptoms. Past medical history includes documented low hemoglobin, low hematocrit, low ferritin, low mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and low mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), confirming the diagnosis of iron deficiency. Previous iron deficiency anemia treatment included oral iron supplementation, with documented improvement in hemoglobin and ferritin levels. The patient denies any history of blood loss, including menorrhagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, or other sources of bleeding. Current symptoms include mild fatigue. Physical examination reveals mild pallor. No other significant findings were noted. Assessment: History of iron deficiency anemia, currently stable. Plan: Recommend complete blood count (CBC) with differential, iron studies (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, total iron-binding capacity), and reticulocyte count to assess current iron status. Counseling provided on dietary sources of iron and the importance of compliance with any prescribed iron supplementation. Patient education regarding iron deficiency anemia causes, symptoms, and management provided. Follow-up scheduled to review lab results and adjust treatment as needed. Differential diagnosis considered included thalassemia and anemia of chronic disease, but previous laboratory findings and response to iron therapy support the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. ICD-10 code D50.9, Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified, is appropriate for this encounter.