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A new paper describing the new International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 code for malnutrition in adults is also published in the journal. American Journal of Clinical Nutritionby ASN, the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy). This document provides guidance on how malnutrition in adults should be identified, documented and implemented in clinical practice before the implementation of ICD-11 in 2027.
Why are ICD codes and standardization important?
ICD codes are the standard system used worldwide to document diagnoses in healthcare. They provide a common language that clinicians, hospitals, researchers, insurers, and public health agencies rely on to describe health conditions.
Standardization is important because it ensures that the same condition is consistently identified and documented in all clinical settings. Without standard codes, the same diagnosis may be recorded differently by different providers or institutions, making it difficult to compare data, track outcomes, understand disease prevalence, or support appropriate care and reimbursement.
For malnutrition in adults, the lack of a consistent and standardized ICD code has contributed to inconsistent and underrecognized documentation, particularly among adults with acute or chronic illness who do not have a body mass index (BMI). The new ICD-11 code addresses this gap by providing a consistent way to identify and document malnutrition across clinical settings.
What does the new ICD-11 code include?
The new code reflects current clinical understanding of malnutrition in adults. The diagnosis is based on a combination of physical symptoms, such as sudden weight loss, low muscle mass or low BMI, and underlying causes, such as reduced food intake, disease, inflammation, or starvation.
Clinicians can use specific validated tools such as the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AAIM) indicators, the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA), and the Global Leadership in Malnutrition (LIG).
Preparation for implementation
Successful implementation requires advocacy, education, collaboration, and support among clinicians, nutritionists, health IT teams, and coding professionals. Major steps also include integrating the new ICD-11 code into electronic health record (EHR) systems to support consistent documentation and data capture.
ASN is committed to supporting its members and the broader nutrition community through education and practical resources that help prepare for the implementation of ICD-11. A key part of these efforts is practice tooldeveloped jointly by ASN, ASPEN, and the Academy, which provides guidance on the application of diagnostic criteria.
In joint publication of this article Leading nutrition journals emphasize the importance of standard screening for malnutrition in adults. By adopting a collaborative approach through ICD-11, physicians will be better equipped to recognize malnutrition, provide appropriate care, and contribute to improved data, research, and outcomes worldwide.
For more information, see the previous ASN blog post: WHO is the first to establish an ICD code for malnutrition in the clinical setting for adultswhich also provides reference to practice tools developed by ASN, ASPEN and the Academy.
