Facebook tracking pixel
F05
ICD-10-CM
Sundowning

Understand sundowning syndrome, its symptoms, and effective management strategies. Find information on clinical documentation for sundowning, including ICD-10 codes, diagnostic criteria, and best practices for healthcare professionals. Learn about late-day confusion, agitation, and anxiety in dementia patients and explore resources for caregivers and medical professionals dealing with sundowning behaviors. Discover tips for accurate medical coding and documentation of sundowning to ensure proper reimbursement and care planning.

Also known as

Sundown Syndrome
Late-day Confusion

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC F05 Coding
F02.81

Major neurocognitive disorder

Sundowning is often a symptom of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

G30.0-G30.9

Alzheimers disease

Sundowning is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.

F05

Delirium

Increased confusion and agitation in the late afternoon/evening can be seen in delirium.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is Sundowning documented?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Increased confusion and agitation in late afternoon/evening.
General term for declining cognitive function, not a specific disease.
Neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease.

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Sundowning diagnosis: Document symptom onset time.
  • Describe sundowning symptoms: confusion, agitation, anxiety.
  • Rule out other causes: medication side effects, infections.
  • Document sundowning impact: ADLs, safety, caregiver burden.
  • ICD-10 code: Specify if related to dementia (e.g., G30.1).

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Light therapy, consistent routines for sundowning ICD-10 R45.81
  • Limit daytime napping, manage pain, optimize medications G93.1
  • Create calm evening environment, reduce stimulation, avoid caffeine
  • Document sundowning behaviors, triggers, interventions for CDI
  • Ensure proper coding, compliant documentation for F05 Delirium

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • 1. Late-day confusion: Document onset, duration, severity.
  • 2. Assess for underlying cause: Infection, medication, pain.
  • 3. Cognitive assessment: Mini-Cog, MMSE, MoCA.
  • 4. Review medication list: Identify potential triggers.

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Sundowning reimbursement challenges impact medical billing and coding accuracy, affecting hospital revenue cycle management.
  • Accurate Sundowning diagnosis coding (ICD-10: G30.1, R45.1, F05) is crucial for appropriate reimbursement and quality reporting.
  • Miscoding Sundowning can lead to claim denials, impacting hospital finances and patient care quality metrics.
  • Proper documentation of Sundowning symptoms is essential for accurate coding, maximizing reimbursement and improving care quality.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes. Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code sundowning with F02.81 or other relevant codes
  • Document specific sundowning symptoms in detail
  • Link sundowning to underlying dementia diagnosis
  • Consider G30 for Alzheimer's related sundowning
  • Correlate sundowning with time of day in notes

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with symptoms consistent with sundowning syndrome, also known as late-day confusion.  The patient exhibits increased confusion, agitation, anxiety, and restlessness in the late afternoon and evening hours.  These symptoms are temporally related to the diurnal cycle and worsen as daylight diminishes.  The patient's baseline cognitive function is documented as (insert baseline cognitive status - e.g., mild cognitive impairment, dementia, etc.).  Differential diagnoses considered include delirium, medication side effects, and sleep disturbances.  Assessment included a review of medications, cognitive assessment using (specify assessment tool - e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment), and discussion with family or caregivers regarding behavioral changes.  Current medications were reviewed for potential exacerbating factors.  The patient's environment was assessed for safety concerns related to increased confusion and agitation.  Plan of care includes non-pharmacological interventions such as establishing a regular routine, optimizing lighting, and providing a calming environment in the evening.  Patient and family education provided on sundowning syndrome, its management, and available support resources.  Follow-up scheduled to assess response to interventions and consider pharmacological management if non-pharmacological strategies prove insufficient.  ICD-10 code G30.1 (Alzheimer's disease with late onset) or F02.81 (Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere with behavioral disturbance) may be appropriate depending on the underlying etiology, along with appropriate modifiers if applicable for medical billing and coding purposes.  CPT codes for evaluation and management services will be determined based on the complexity of the visit.