ICD is an international classification of diseases. It was created to unify the process of coding diseases and pathological conditions. As a result, doctors from all over the world are now able to exchange information, even if they do not speak a large number of languages.
History of the creation of the ICD
ICB is a classification, the basis of which was laid back in 1893 by Jacques Bertillon, who at that time was the head of the Statistical Bureau of Paris. On behalf of the International Statistical Institute, he developed a classification of causes of death. In his work, he built on earlier Swiss, French and English works.
The classification of causes of death by Jacques Bertillon has been widely accepted and widely used in Europe and North America. During the 6th revision in 1948, diseases and pathological conditions that do not lead to death were also included in its structure.
The modern ICD is a 10th revision document approved by the World He alth Assembly in 1990. In factpracticing physicians began to use it in 1994. On the territory of the Russian Federation, official use of the ICD-10 began only in 1997.
Since 2012, scientists have been developing the ICD-11, but to date this document has not entered into force.
Features of the structure and basic principles of the ICD-10
The 10th version of the International Classification of Diseases introduced fundamental changes to its structure, the main of which was the use of an alphanumeric coding system.
The ICD-10 classification has 22 classes, which are grouped into the following groups:
- epidemic diseases;
- general or constitutional diseases;
- local diseases that are grouped according to anatomical features;
- developmental diseases;
- traumatic injuries.
Some classes include several letter headings at once. The 11th revision of this document is currently underway, but no significant changes to the classification structure are planned.
Composition of the ICD
This international classification consists of three volumes at once:
- the first volume includes the basic classification, special lists for summary statistical developments, a section on "Morphology of neoplasms", as well as nomenclature rules;
- second volume contains clear instructions on how to properly use the ICD-10;
- the third volume includes an alphabetical index,attached to the main classification.
Today, these 3 volumes are most often combined and released under 1 cover for the convenience of the user.
Letter rubrics
ICD-10 is an international classification of diseases, in connection with which its creators had to think over unified designations understandable to every specialist. For this, it was decided to use headings marked in Latin letters. There are 26 of them in total. At the same time, the creators left the heading U for the further development of ICD-10.
Disease codes in this document, in addition to the letter designation, also include a number. It can be two or three digits. Thanks to this, the creators of the ICD managed to encode all known diseases.
Practical use of ICD-10
Deciphering this coding system using the appropriate reference book is absolutely no problem, not only for medical specialists, but also for people who do not have any medical knowledge. Doctors use ICD on an ongoing basis. Any disease that occurs in their patients is coded according to the international classification. Most often in practice, doctors use them for:
- Issuance of medical documents, if necessary, hide the diagnosis (usually when a person passes a commission for getting a job, receiving a document confirming that the patient really was at the doctor's appointment).
- Filling out medical documentation (extract from the medical history, cardinpatient).
- Filling out statistical reporting documents.
As a result, ICD-10 allows not only the exchange of information between doctors of different countries, but also the preservation of medical secrecy.
Coding by class
ICD-10 consists of 22 classes. Each of them includes diseases that have common principles of pathogenesis or related to a specific anatomical region. All classes have their own designation in the form of Latin numerals. Among them:
- Neoplasms.
- Parasitic and infectious diseases.
- Diseases of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders and eating disorders.
- Diseases of the nervous system.
- Diseases of the blood, as well as hematopoietic organs, immune disorders.
- Behavioral and mental disorders.
- Mastoid and ear diseases.
- Diseases of the eye and adnexa.
- Congenital anomalies.
- Diseases of the respiratory system.
- Diseases of the digestive system.
- Diseases of the subcutaneous tissue and skin.
- Diseases of the circulatory system.
- Diseases of the connective tissue and the musculoskeletal system.
- Pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
- Factors that affect a person's he alth status and frequency of visits to he althcare facilities.
- Diseases of the genitourinary system.
- Certain conditions occurring in the perinatal period.
- Injury, poisoning and othersconsequences of external causes.
- Symptoms, signs and abnormalities that have been identified as a result of laboratory and clinical studies, not included elsewhere.
- External causes of disease and death.
As for the 22nd class, it is reserved for a group of diseases or pathological conditions that is currently not yet established.
Further Development Paths
ICD-10 is an international classification of diseases that has serious potential for development. Currently, doctors use this document not only in paper form, but also in electronic form. For these purposes, a huge number of thematic sites have been created, and several mobile applications have been developed.
Also, ICD-10 coding is incorporated into all electronic medical integration systems, which are currently being actively developed in the post-Soviet countries. Given the presence of a free heading U, this classification is able in the future to include a whole class of new diseases. At the same time, now it is sometimes used by scientists to assign a temporary code to those diseases and pathological conditions, the cause of which has not been fully studied to date. Distribution into a permanent rubric in the future occurs after clarification of the main points of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. As a result, the ICD is an international classification of diseases that has every opportunity for further development.
