Central sleep apnea in conditions classified elsewhere

This code identifies central sleep apnea (CSA) that is a manifestation or complication of another underlying medical condition. In CSA, the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep, leading to pauses in respiration. This specific code is used when the CSA is secondary to a primary disease process.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links central sleep apnea to another specified medical condition, such as heart failure, stroke, renal failure, or opioid use. The medical record should explicitly state the causal relationship between the primary condition and the CSA. This code requires a secondary code for the underlying condition.

• Always sequence the underlying condition first, followed by this code.
• Do not use this code for idiopathic CSA or CSA due to high-altitude periodic breathing; use more specific codes.
• Ensure the physician's documentation explicitly states "central sleep apnea due to..." or "central sleep apnea secondary to..." to support the "conditions classified elsewhere" designation.