What does ICD-10 code I70 mean?

ICD-10 code I70 is the standardized code used for atherosclerosis in medical records and coding systems.

When is ICD-10 code I70 used?

Doctors, hospitals, and insurers may use ICD-10 code I70 when recording atherosclerosis in a standardized format. This entry may also act as a broader category that points toward more specific child codes.

Does ICD-10 code I70 confirm a diagnosis?

No. A code helps standardize documentation and claims, but it should not be read as a substitute for a clinician's full assessment.

ICD10

ICD-10 Code I70: Atherosclerosis

Name: ICD-10 Code I70: Atherosclerosis
Creator: HealthAssure Clinical Team
Published: 2026-05-21T06:13:32.122Z

I70 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Atherosclerosis. You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen. ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99).

When is it used?

May be used when a clinician documents atherosclerosis in a patient's medical record.
May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.

What it does not mean

A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.

Code hierarchy

chapter

9Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)

block

I70-I79Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries

currentI70-I79

Official coding notes

Includes

arteriolosclerosis
arterial degeneration
arteriosclerosis
arteriosclerotic vascular disease
arteriovascular degeneration
atheroma
endarteritis deformans or obliterans
senile arteritis
senile endarteritis
vascular degeneration

Applicable to

code to identify:
exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
tobacco dependence (F17.-)
tobacco use (Z72.0)

Excludes2 (may code together if documented)

arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (I25.1-)
arteriosclerotic heart disease (I25.1-)
atheroembolism (I75.-)
cerebral atherosclerosis (I67.2)
coronary atherosclerosis (I25.1-)
mesenteric atherosclerosis (K55.1)
precerebral atherosclerosis (I67.2)
primary pulmonary atherosclerosis (I27.0)

Use additional code

code to identify:
exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
tobacco dependence (F17.-)
tobacco use (Z72.0)

Where you may see this code

You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.

Related specialists

CardiologistGeneral Physician

Sibling codes

I71Aortic aneurysm and dissection I72Other aneurysm I73Other peripheral vascular diseases I74Arterial embolism and thrombosis I75Atheroembolism I76Septic arterial embolismbillable I77Other disorders of arteries and arterioles I78Diseases of capillaries I79Disorders of arteries, arterioles and capillaries in diseases classified elsewhere

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.

Legacy codes

I70

Replacement codes

I70.0 — Atherosclerosis of aortaI70.1 — Atherosclerosis of renal arteryI70.8 — Atherosclerosis of other arteries

Common synonyms

Atherosclerosis

Frequently asked questions

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.