Get to Know the Different CKD Stages
Question: I have a report where the urologist diagnosed the patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD), stage 3b. Could you explain the differences between the CKD stages? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: CKD is a long-term condition where the kidneys don’t function properly over time. If the kidneys are unable to clean the blood in the body, the extra fluid and waste products build up and can lead to other conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, or death. A healthcare professional will test a sample of the patient’s blood to assess the kidneys’ functionality. The test is known as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and it calculates how much blood (in milliliters) the kidneys filter each minute. A high number means healthy kidney function while a lower number means the kidneys aren’t functioning well. The CKD stage is related to the eGFR measurement. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the stages and corresponding eGFR are as follows: The ICD-10-CM code book features the following codes for the different CKD stages: The N18.3- (Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 (moderate)) subcategory also includes N18.30 (Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 unspecified). You’ll use this code when the provider documents a stage 3 CKD diagnosis but doesn’t specify whether the patient has stage 3a or stage 3b CKD. Code N18.30 should not be confused with N18.9 (Chronic kidney disease, unspecified), which you’ll use if the physician does not identify the CKD stage in the documentation. Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
CKD Stage
eGFR
Stage 1
eGFR 90 or higher
Stage 2
eGFR 60 to 89
Stage 3a
eGFR 45 to 59
Stage 3b
eGFR 30 to 44
Stage 4
eGFR 15 to 29
Stage 5
eGFR less than 15
