ICD-10 Guide

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

ICD-10 Coding for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea(R06.09, I50.9)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYCardiology

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea?

Essential facts and insights about Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

Key Clinical Considerations:

Sudden shortness of breath during sleep
Orthopnea or difficulty breathing when lying flat
Wheezing or coughing at night

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history of heart failure or pulmonary issues
Description of episodes including frequency and duration
Assessment of associated symptoms like edema or fatigue

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow guidelines for heart failure coding.
Common errors include misclassifying dyspnea types.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Asthma exacerbations
Acute pulmonary edema

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Cardiology

Specialty Applications

Patients with heart failure, COPD, or sleep apnea
Cardiology and pulmonary clinics

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

Document the frequency, duration, and severity of episodes.

What are the billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to reflect the severity and underlying conditions.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?