Find clear guidance on low iron diagnosis, including iron deficiency anemia, using ICD-10 codes and SNOMED CT terminology for accurate clinical documentation. Learn about laboratory tests like serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and transferrin saturation for diagnosing iron deficiency. This resource covers healthcare best practices for coding and documenting low iron levels in medical records, ensuring accurate reimbursement and improved patient care. Explore symptoms, causes, and treatment considerations related to iron deficiency anemia and other low iron conditions.
Also known as
Nutritional anemias
Covers iron deficiency anemia and other nutritional deficiencies.
Anemia, unspecified
Use when a more specific anemia diagnosis isn't available, potentially including iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency
Indicates low iron levels without specifying anemia.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the low iron due to dietary insufficiency?
Yes
Code D50.9 Iron deficiency anaemia, unspecified
No
Is it due to blood loss (chronic)?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Low Iron |
| Iron Deficiency Anemia |
| Sideropenic Dysphagia |
Coding anemia as unspecified (D64.9) without proper documentation of iron studies creates a risk of inaccurate reimbursement and quality reporting.
Miscoding iron deficiency (D50.9) as anemia without confirming low hemoglobin levels can lead to clinical documentation integrity issues and coding errors.
Failing to code the specific type of iron deficiency anemia (e.g., D50.0, D50.8) when documented leads to loss of data granularity and potential compliance risks.
Patient presents with symptoms suggestive of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), including fatigue, weakness, and pallor. Review of systems reveals shortness of breath on exertion, palpitations, and dizziness. Patient reports a history of heavy menstrual bleeding. Physical examination reveals pale conjunctiva and brittle nails. Laboratory results show low hemoglobin (Hb), low hematocrit (Hct), low serum iron, low ferritin, elevated total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and low transferrin saturation. Microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells observed on peripheral blood smear. Iron deficiency anemia diagnosis confirmed based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings. Differential diagnosis considered included thalassemia and anemia of chronic disease. Plan includes oral iron supplementation with ferrous sulfate. Patient education provided on iron-rich foods, dietary modifications, and potential side effects of iron therapy, such as constipation. Follow-up scheduled in four weeks to monitor Hb, Hct, and ferritin levels. Medical coding includes ICD-10-CM code D50.9 for iron deficiency anemia unspecified. Patient advised to contact the office if symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop.