hyperlipidemia

DEFINITION of hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is an umbrella term for a group of acquired or genetic disorders characterized by elevated concentrations of lipids and/or lipoproteins — including LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids — circulating in the bloodstream. It represents a subset of the broader category dyslipidemia and a superset of hypercholesterolemia. Because lipids do not dissolve in blood, excess amounts can deposit in arterial walls, driving atherosclerosis and significantly increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Hyperlipidemia is usually chronic and most patients require ongoing pharmacologic management combined with lifestyle modification.

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ETYMOLOGY of hyperlipidemia

greek

Component	Origin	Meaning
hyper-	Greek ὑπέρ (hypér)	Over, above, excessive
lip(o)-	Greek λίπος (lípos)	Fat
-emia	Greek αἷμα (haîma)	Blood

Literally: “excessive fat in the blood.” The combining form lipo- is the same root seen in liposuction, lipoma, and lipoprotein.

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Aliases & Related Terms

• Hyperlipidaemia — British/Commonwealth spelling

• Hyperlipoproteinemia — emphasizes the lipoprotein carrier elevation, not just the lipid itself

• High cholesterol — lay/patient-facing term, technically refers to hypercholesterolemia specifically

• Dyslipidemia — broader umbrella; includes both high and low abnormal lipid levels

• Hypercholesterolemia — elevated cholesterol specifically; a subset of hyperlipidemia

• Hypertriglyceridemia — elevated triglycerides specifically

• Combined hyperlipidemia — elevated both LDL and triglycerides with decreased HDL; the most common inherited lipid disorder

• Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) — genetic form caused by LDL receptor mutations

• Fredrickson classification — phenotypic typing system (Types I-V) used to categorize hyperlipoproteinemias

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CODING CORNER

ICD-10-CM Codes

All hyperlipidemia codes live in category E78 - Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and other lipidemias. Note: E78 codes are complete as listed (no 7th character required for metabolic disorder codes).

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
E78.00	Pure hypercholesterolemia, unspecified
E78.01	Familial hypercholesterolemia
E78.1	Pure hypertriglyceridemia
E78.2	Mixed hyperlipidemia
E78.5	Hyperlipidemia, unspecified (your most-used workhorse code!)
Z13.220	Encounter for screening for lipoid disorders (lipid panel screening)

🩺 Coder tip (inpatient profee hat on!): Per UHDDS guidelines, hyperlipidemia should be coded as a secondary/comorbid diagnosis when it is managed or affects patient care during the encounter. Always assign the most specific E78 subcategory supported by documentation — don’t default to E78.5 if the provider documented “familial hypercholesterolemia” or “hypertriglyceridemia.” Query if needed!

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CPT Codes

These are the most commonly associated CPT codes for diagnosis and monitoring:

CPT Code	Description

CPT Code	Description
80061	Lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides — the big 3)
82465	Cholesterol, serum, total
83718	Lipoprotein, direct measurement; HDL cholesterol
83721	Lipoprotein, direct measurement; LDL cholesterol
84478	Triglycerides
99213-99215	E/M office visit for ongoing hyperlipidemia management (level depends on MDM)

Treatment pharmacologic agents relevant to coding documentation include statins (first-line for LDL reduction), fibrates (triglyceride-focused), PCSK9 inhibitors (reserved for resistant/familial cases), and omega-3 supplements.

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DERIVATIONS of hyperlipidemia

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Query functionality

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Med roots Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms