International Classification of Diseases

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) stands as the premier global "standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes." Its official title is International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, illustrating its comprehensive scope in addressing global health matters.

Origins and Maintenance

The responsibility of upkeeping the ICD falls on the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO functions as the primary guiding and coordinating health-focused body within the United Nations System. While the initial objective of the ICD was to serve as a health care classification system, it has evolved to provide a robust mechanism for disease diagnosis, embracing a vast spectrum of signs, abnormalities, complaints, social situations, and the external catalysts for injuries or diseases.

Structure and Function

This intricate classification system encapsulates health conditions into generic categories, augmented with specific variances. These are then assigned an explicit code, which can extend up to six characters. The intent is for major categories to encapsulate a cluster of related diseases.

Digital Advancements

ICD-11 heralds a significant progression, primarily due to its incorporation of terminological and ontological components tailored for optimal usage in digital health.

Applications and Global Usage

Distributed by WHO, the ICD finds widespread application across the globe for:

Morbidity and mortality statistics Health care reimbursement systems Automated decision support mechanisms in health care The intrinsic design of the ICD ensures international compatibility during the collection, classification, and presentation of pertinent statistics. Drawing parallels with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (focused on psychiatric disorders and predominantly used in the United States), the ICD endeavors to statistically catalog all health disruptions, whilst offering diagnostic aid. It represents a foundational diagnostic component within the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC).

Revision History

Currently in its 10th iteration, ICD-10 originated in 1992. WHO introduces annual minor modifications and major updates every three years. The eleventh edition, ICD-11, secured approval from the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) on 25 May 2019 and is slated to be operational from 1 January 2022.

Associated Classifications

The ICD is a pivotal member of the WHOFIC. Complementing it are:

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF): Concentrating on functional domains linked to health conditions, encompassing both medical and societal viewpoints. International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI): Offering classifications for an array of medical, nursing, functional, and public health interventions.

See Also

• World Health Organization
• Epidemiology
• Health management
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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