Periodic breathing

Periodic breathing refers to an abnormal respiratory pattern characterized by recurrent episodes of hyperventilation followed by central apnea or hypopnea. This cyclical pattern of breathing is often observed during sleep and can be associated with various underlying medical conditions.

This code is appropriate for documenting periodic breathing identified through polysomnography or other respiratory monitoring. It should be used when the physician explicitly diagnoses periodic breathing, often in the context of sleep-disordered breathing. Documentation should clearly describe the cyclical nature of the breathing pattern.

• Differentiate from Cheyne-Stokes respiration (I47.9, R06.89) which has a specific crescendo-decrescendo pattern and is often associated with cardiac conditions.
• Do not code this if the periodic breathing is a normal physiological finding in infants (e.g., premature infants) unless it is clinically significant.
• Always look for an underlying cause (e.g., heart failure, high altitude, neurological disorders) and code it as a primary diagnosis if applicable, with periodic breathing as a secondary diagnosis.