The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), provides a comprehensive system for coding various health conditions, including hypertension. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, and stroke. The ICD-10 codes for hypertension are essential for healthcare providers to accurately diagnose, treat, and manage the condition.
ICD-10 Codes for Hypertension

The ICD-10 codes for hypertension are classified under the category āIā (Certain infectious and parasitic diseases) and subcategory āI10-I15ā (Hypertensive diseases). The primary ICD-10 codes for hypertension are:
- I10 - Essential (primary) hypertension
- I11 - Hypertensive heart disease
- I12 - Hypertensive renal disease
- I13 - Hypertensive heart and renal disease
- I15 - Secondary hypertension
These codes are further subdivided to specify the type of hypertension, its severity, and any associated complications. For example, I10.0 specifies "Essential (primary) hypertension, unspecified," while I10.9 specifies "Essential (primary) hypertension, stage 2."
Secondary Hypertension Codes
Secondary hypertension refers to high blood pressure caused by an underlying medical condition, such as kidney disease, sleep apnea, or certain medications. The ICD-10 codes for secondary hypertension are:
- I15.0 - Secondary hypertension, unspecified
- I15.1 - Secondary hypertension due to renal disease
- I15.2 - Secondary hypertension due to endocrine disorder
- I15.8 - Secondary hypertension due to other specified causes
- I15.9 - Secondary hypertension, unspecified cause
These codes help healthcare providers to identify the underlying cause of secondary hypertension and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Key Points
- The ICD-10 codes for hypertension are essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and management of the condition.
- The primary ICD-10 codes for hypertension are I10-I15, which specify the type of hypertension and its severity.
- Secondary hypertension codes (I15.0-I15.9) help identify the underlying cause of high blood pressure.
- Accurate coding is crucial for healthcare providers to develop effective treatment plans and track patient outcomes.
- ICD-10 codes for hypertension are regularly updated to reflect changes in medical knowledge and practice.
Importance of Accurate ICD-10 Coding for Hypertension

Accurate ICD-10 coding for hypertension is crucial for several reasons:
- Reimbursement: Accurate coding ensures that healthcare providers receive appropriate reimbursement for their services.
- Quality of care: Accurate coding helps healthcare providers to track patient outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective treatment plans.
- Research and surveillance: Accurate coding enables researchers to track trends in hypertension prevalence, incidence, and outcomes, which informs public health policy and practice.
- Population health management: Accurate coding helps healthcare providers to identify high-risk patients, develop targeted interventions, and improve population health outcomes.
In conclusion, the ICD-10 codes for hypertension provide a standardized system for coding and tracking high blood pressure diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. Accurate coding is essential for healthcare providers to develop effective treatment plans, track patient outcomes, and improve population health management.
| ICD-10 Code | Description |
|---|---|
| I10 | Essential (primary) hypertension |
| I11 | Hypertensive heart disease |
| I12 | Hypertensive renal disease |
| I13 | Hypertensive heart and renal disease |
| I15 | Secondary hypertension |

FAQs
What is the ICD-10 code for essential hypertension?
+The ICD-10 code for essential hypertension is I10.
What is the difference between primary and secondary hypertension?
+Primary hypertension refers to high blood pressure with no identifiable cause, while secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying medical condition.
How do I code secondary hypertension due to kidney disease?
+The ICD-10 code for secondary hypertension due to kidney disease is I15.1.