ICD-10 Code J45.52 – Severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J45.52 – Severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus
What it is
This code identifies severe persistent asthma complicated by status asthmaticus. It means the patient has ongoing, hard-to-control asthma with a severe acute exacerbation that does not quickly respond to usual measures.
Clinical signs
Typical documentation includes severe wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and marked airflow limitation. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for the episode’s severity and whether status asthmaticus is specifically stated.
When to use this code
Use J45.52 when the record clearly documents severe persistent asthma and also indicates status asthmaticus. This is appropriate for encounters describing an acute, severe asthma attack in a patient with chronic severe persistent disease. Do not infer status asthmaticus from asthma symptoms alone.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for asthma without status asthmaticus, or for intermittent, mild, or moderate persistent asthma. If the documentation is unclear, check documentation rather than assuming severity.
Coding tip
Assign this code only when both severity and status asthmaticus are explicitly documented.