What does code N18.3 designate in terms of chronic kidney disease?

The code N18.3 designates "Moderate chronic kidney disease" (CKD). In the ICD-10-CM coding system, chronic kidney disease is categorized into stages based on the severity of the condition, characterized primarily by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Moderate CKD is defined as having a GFR between 30 and 59 mL/min. This classification helps healthcare providers understand the patient's condition better and aids in determining appropriate management strategies.

The context of CKD stages is crucial here: mild CKD typically refers to stage 1 and 2, with a GFR above 60; severe CKD corresponds to stage 4, with a GFR of 15 to 29; and end-stage renal disease (stage 5) is when the GFR falls below 15, indicating that the kidneys can no longer maintain metabolic balance, sometimes necessitating dialysis or transplantation. Thus, the N18.3 coding accurately captures the severity of a patient's chronic kidney disease as "moderate," providing invaluable information for treatment planning and prognosis.