J44.0 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection
The ICD-10-CM code for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection is J44.0 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.
Classification
- Section
- J40-J4A: Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J4A)
- Category J44
- 7 codes (5 billable)
- FY2026 Status
- Stable since FY2024
Also Known As
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to J44.0:
- Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic) › chronic obstructive › with › acute lower respiratory infection
- Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous) › acute or subacute (with bronchospasm or obstruction) › with › chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic) › with › chronic obstructive pulmonary disease › with › acute lower respiratory infection
- Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic) › with › chronic obstructive bronchitis › with › acute lower respiratory infection
- Disease, diseased › pulmonary › chronic obstructive › with › lower respiratory infection (acute)
- Disease, diseased › pulmonary › chronic obstructive › with › acute bronchitis
- Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous) › asthmatic › chronic › with › acute lower respiratory infection
- Disease, diseased › lung › obstructive (chronic) › with › acute › bronchitis
U.S. Hospital Utilization
- An estimated 794,640 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included J44.0 among the documented diagnoses.
- 18,270 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.
Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.
Official Coding Guidelines
COPD/asthma: acute exacerbation vs uncomplicateda. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] and Asthma 1) Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive bronchitis and asthma The codes in categories J44 and J45 distinguish between uncomplicated cases and those in acute exacerbation. An acute exacerbation is a worsening or a decompensation of a chronic condition. An acute exacerbation is not equivalent to an infection superimposed on a chronic condition, though an exacerbation may be triggered by an infection.
Acute respiratory failure as principal diagnosisb. Acute Respiratory Failure 1) Acute respiratory failure as principal diagnosis A code from subcategory J96.0, Acute respiratory failure, or subcategory J96.2, Acute and chronic respiratory failure, may be assigned as a principal diagnosis when it is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission to the hospital, and the selection is supported by the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List. However, chapter- specific coding guidelines (such as obstetrics, poisoning, HIV, newborn) that provide sequencing direction take precedence.
Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026