Abstract:
The history from the Sixth to the Ninth Revisions of the ICD is described. The 10th
revision is presented as the 21st Century classification. The preparation of the ICD-10
included a long process with two expert committee meetings. A classification of diseases
can be defined as a system of categories to which morbid entities are assigned according
to established criteria. The pupose of the ICD is to permit the systematic analysis,
interpretation and comparison of mortality and morbidity data collected in different
countries or areas and at different times. In practice, the ICD has become the international
standard diagnostic classification for all general epidemiological and many health
management purposes. It was felt that the main ICD (the three- and four-character
classification), covered by three volumes of ICD-10, could not incorporate all this
additional information and remain accessible, and relevant to its traditional users,
so the idea arose of a “family” of disease and health-related classifications, including
volumes published separately form the main ICD, to be used as required. A statistical
classification of diseases must be confined to a limited number of mutually exclusive
categories, able to encompass the whole range of morbid condition, and must have well
defined place in the list of categories. Consequently, throughout the classification,
there will be residual categories for other and miscellaneous conditions that cannot
be allocated to the more specific categories. As few conditions as possible should
be classified to residual categories. Consequently, throughout the classification,
there will be residual categories for other and miscellaneous conditions that cannot
be allocated to the more specific categories. As few conditions as possible should
be classified to residual categories. A broad description of ICD-10 itself, including
information on applications, conventions, and general principles for use are described.
Keywords:
ICD - Main ICD - Classification of Diseases
