Sleep Apnea ICD-10-CM Codes

What sleep apnea ICD codes can I use?

If you’re looking for sleep apnea ICD codes, there are only a few to choose from with sleep apnea in their names. Here are the ones that you can select from:

1. G47.30 - Sleep apnea, unspecified

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have sleep apnea. The unspecified label means that the type of sleep apnea is not known or identified. There are different types of sleep apnea, such as central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and mixed/complex sleep apnea. If you have identified your patient's specific type of sleep apnea, it’s best to use a more specific ICD-10 code once the specific type is identified.

2. G47.31 - Primary central sleep apnea

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have Primary Central Sleep Apnea. This type of sleep apnea is characterized by a problem with the brain that disrupts its function to send signals to breathing-related muscles.

3. G47.33 - Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A person with this type of sleep apnea is characterized by the relaxation of their head and neck muscles. When these muscles relax, nearby tissues press on the patient’s windpipe, obstructing the airways.

4. G47.37 - Central sleep apnea in conditions classified elsewhere

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have Central Sleep Apnea, specifically one that’s caused by other conditions. It’s best to check if your patient's type of Central Sleep Apnea doesn’t have a specific ICD-10 code. You can use this if it is caused by certain conditions that are not covered by certain ICD-10 codes. 

5. G47.39 - Other sleep apnea

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have sleep apnea, but a type of sleep apnea that isn’t covered by other ICD-10 codes. You can use this for mixed sleep apnea and organic sleep apnea.

6. G47.32 - High altitude periodic breathing

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have high altitude periodic breathing. This type of breathing is unstable and is caused by reduced oxygen content in a person’s blood caused by being in a place with a high altitude. This type of breathing can result in Central Sleep Apnea.

Are these sleep apnea ICD codes billable?

Yes. All of the ones we listed above are valid and billable.

Clinical information about sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a kind of sleeping disorder. A person who has sleep apnea will stop breathing every now and then while they sleep. When a person’s breathing stops while sleeping, the brain will start sending signals for them to wake up. As soon as the person wakes up, their breathing resumes.

The breathing stops due to their airways being blocked or if there’s something wrong with the brain’s ability to control breathing. If a person keeps waking up because they stop breathing every now and then while they sleep, they won’t be able to get enough restful sleep. If they’re not getting enough sleep and this problem has been left unmanaged and untreated for too long, it can lead to terrible consequences because this problem can eventually lead to heart problems.

There are also three types of sleep apnea. We already discussed Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea earlier, but not Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea. That one is just a combination of Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

A person with sleep apnea will exhibit/experience the following symptoms:

• Insomnia
• Hypersomnia (or daytime sleepiness)
• They will snore a lot, in some cases loudly
• They will have unusual breathing patterns while sleeping
• They will likely wake up a lot at night
• They will sweat a lot at night and wake up
• They will feel tired when they wake up
• They will be susceptible to mood changes
• They’re prone to getting headaches due to lack of restful sleep
• They will feel restless and anxious

Synonyms include

• Breathing-related sleep disorder
• Hypersomnia with sleep apnea
• Insomnia with sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea syndrome
• Central sleep apnea without Cheyne-Stokes respiration
• Primary central sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea caused by high altitude
• High altitude periodic breathing
• Obstructive sleep apnea of adult
• Obstructive sleep apnea of child