F34.1 - Dysthymic disorder

Clinical Definition

A chronic respiratory disease with persistent airflow limitation, usually progressive and associated with enhanced inflammatory responses in the airways and lungs to noxious particles or gases.

Documentation Requirements

• Must document ALL of the following:

  • Chronic nature of condition

  • Airflow obstruction/limitation

  • Current status (stable, acute exacerbation, etc.)

• Additional required specifics:

  • Severity (mild, moderate, severe)

  • Type if known (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or both)

  • Tobacco use status

  • History of tobacco exposure if relevant

  • Any associated complications

Common Synonyms

• "Emphysema"

• "Chronic bronchitis"

• "Smoker's lung"

• "Air trap"

• "Lung disease from smoking"

Coding Conflicts

Excludes1:

• Asthma (J45.-)

• Bronchiectasis (J47.-)

• Simple chronic bronchitis (J41.0)

Excludes2:

• Bronchitis not specified as chronic (J40)

• Chronic tracheitis (J42)

Scribing.io Automation

The AI scribe automatically identifies:

• Keywords indicating COPD diagnosis ("emphysema", "chronic bronchitis")

• Severity indicators ("mild", "moderate", "severe")

• Exacerbation status

• Associated symptoms

• Smoking history details

• Treatment responses
  This allows for accurate code assignment while reducing documentation burden.