ICD-10 Code I42.6 – Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I42.6 – Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
What it is
I42.6 identifies cardiomyopathy caused by chronic alcohol use. Use it when documentation links myocardial disease directly to alcohol-related damage.
Clinical signs
Patients may have dilated cardiomyopathy findings such as shortness of breath, fatigue, edema, or reduced cardiac function. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use I42.6 when the provider documents alcoholic cardiomyopathy, alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy, or a cardiomyopathy clearly attributed to alcohol use. It supports coding of the heart condition when the causal relationship is stated. Check documentation if the record only notes alcohol use and heart disease separately.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for cardiomyopathy without an alcohol cause, or for alcohol abuse alone. If the chart does not link the cardiomyopathy to alcohol, code the documented condition instead.
Coding tip
Look for explicit provider wording that connects the cardiomyopathy to alcohol before assigning I42.6.