Erkrankungsart

Erkrankungsart is a German term that is used to describe the specific classification or type of a disease. It refers to how a medical condition is categorized according to its origin, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, or other distinguishing characteristics. The term is commonly found in medical documentation, health insurance forms, and clinical reports.

In practice, Erkrankungsart is often linked to official classification systems. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) published by the World Health Organization assigns each disease a unique code and description, which can be considered the disease type for epidemiological reporting and health policy. In Germany, the ICD-10 German Modification (ICD-10-GM) is routinely used, and the term Erkrankungsart may be used to identify the specific ICD code applied to an individual case.

Beyond coding systems, clinicians may use the term to classify illness by etiology—infectious, genetic, autoimmune, neoplastic, or metabolic, for example. It also applies to functional definitions, such as acute versus chronic, or to specify the organ system involved, such as respiratory or cardiovascular disorders. In the context of insurance claims, the correct identification of Erkrankungsart is critical for determining coverage, reimbursement, and treatment paths.

Because the term is polyvalent, it can be encountered in both clinical and administrative contexts. The importance of precise disease classification extends to research, as accurate typing of diseases enables reliable statistical analysis, identification of risk factors, and development of targeted therapies.