23/10/2025
"Milestone for clinical nutrition 🎉
WHO and the ICD-11 team in Geneva have approved a new diagnosis code: “Undernutrition in Adults” (5B72) — a long-awaited step for our community.
• The code recognizes adult undernutrition and aligns with GLIM-inspired criteria (etiologic + phenotypic).
• Structure: 5B72 with subcategories for inflammation-related, disease-related (non-discernible inflammation), and starvation-related undernutrition; post-coordination for XS0T (Moderate) and XS25 (Severe).
• major ICD-11 addendum will be implemented from 2027
Many thanks to ESPEN representatives campaigning for this initiative: Tommy Cederholm, Elisabet Rothenberg and Rocco Barazzoni.
Heartfelt thanks to Drs. Magdalena Fresk and Christian Francke and the Swedish ICD team at the National Board of Health and Welfare for their support, and to the many societies that endorsed the proposal.
What’s next: 2026 will be our year to prepare guidance and awareness- so that implementation in 2027 is impactful for patients and systems alike.
A big moment for global clinical nutrition. 🌍
"
