E88.A
Billable codeWasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition
The ICD-10 code for wasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition is E88.A.
Clinical notes
Code first
This code represents a manifestation of an underlying disease. Coding convention requires the underlying (etiology) code to be sequenced first, with this code listed second.
- underlying condition
Excludes1 (not coded here)
An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).
Excludes2 (not included here)
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of this one, but a patient can have both at the same time — in that case both codes may be reported together.
Also known as
Alternate wording, synonyms, or specific conditions that fall under this code, listed to help confirm you've picked the right one.
- Cachexia due to underlying condition
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
- •This code represents a manifestation. Documentation should identify the underlying condition, which must be coded first.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
- E88.0Disorders of plasma-protein metabolism, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- E88.1Lipodystrophy, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- E88.2Lipomatosis, not elsewhere classified
- E88.3Tumor lysis syndrome
- E88.4Mitochondrial metabolism disordersnon-billable header
- E88.8Other specified metabolic disordersnon-billable header
- E88.9Metabolic disorder, unspecified
- E88.AWasting disease (syndrome) due to underlying condition
Associated MS-DRGs
E88.A can serve as the principal diagnosis for these Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups.
Informational only — actual DRG assignment also depends on procedures, complications/comorbidities (CC/MCC), discharge status, and payer-specific rules not reflected here.