In simple words: This code represents a group of lung diseases that block airflow to the lungs and make it difficult to breathe.It includes conditions where asthma and COPD are both present, and other types of chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction.

Includes: asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic asthmatic (obstructive) bronchitis, chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction, chronic bronchitis with emphysema, chronic emphysematous bronchitis, chronic obstructive asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis. Excludes1: chronic bronchitis NOS (J42), chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-), chronic tracheitis (J42), chronic tracheobronchitis (J42). Excludes2: bronchiectasis (J47.-), emphysema without chronic bronchitis (J43.-)

Example 1: A patient with a long history of asthma presents with symptoms of chronic bronchitis and reduced airflow. After diagnostic testing confirms both conditions, the physician uses J44 to represent the combined diagnosis of asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease., A patient experiences chronic bronchitis with persistent airway obstruction despite treatment. Tests rule out emphysema. The physician uses J44 to denote chronic obstructive bronchitis., A patient presents with a history of chronic asthmatic bronchitis and progressive difficulty breathing. Following pulmonary function tests, the diagnosis of chronic obstructive asthma is confirmed, and the physician uses J44.

Documentation should support the chronic nature of the obstruction and specify the type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.If asthma is also present, this should be clearly documented.Pulmonary function tests and imaging studies may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

** When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g., tracheobronchitis to bronchitis).