ICD

Template:Infobox medical classification | Name = International Classification of Diseases | WHO = World Health Organization | MedlinePlus = | MeshID =

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a globally used diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management, and clinical purposes. The ICD is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. The ICD is designed to promote international comparability in the collection, processing, classification, and presentation of health statistics.

History

The ICD has been revised periodically to incorporate changes in the medical field. The first edition, known as the International List of Causes of Death, was adopted by the International Statistical Institute in 1893. WHO took over the responsibility for the ICD at its creation in 1948. The ICD has undergone several revisions to reflect advances in health and medical science over time.

Structure

The ICD is structured in a way to include a wide range of health conditions. Each condition or disease is assigned a unique code that consists of alphanumeric characters. The structure allows for easy storage, retrieval, and analysis of health information for evidenced-based decision-making.

Usage

The ICD is used worldwide for various purposes, including:

• Monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of diseases
• Observing reimbursements and resource allocation trends
• Providing a basis for health insurance billing
• Assisting in medical research and decision-making

Versions

The most widely used version of the ICD has been the tenth revision (ICD-10), which was endorsed in May 1990 by the Forty-third World Health Assembly. It is used in more than 100 countries around the world. The eleventh revision (ICD-11) was adopted in 2019 and will come into effect in January 2022.

Impact

The ICD has a significant impact on the administration of health care and research. It helps health care providers and administrators to compare data both internationally and across time periods. By standardizing the classification of diseases, the ICD improves the accuracy and consistency of health information across global boundaries.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its widespread use, the ICD has faced criticism for its complexity and for the potential for misclassification. Additionally, the process of revising the ICD can be lengthy and politically charged, as different stakeholders have diverse interests in the outcomes of the revisions.

Future Developments

The WHO continues to work on updates and revisions to the ICD to keep pace with advances in medicine and changes in health trends. The transition to ICD-11 is expected to address some of the existing criticisms and to incorporate modern health information needs, including a more detailed classification system and integration with electronic health records.