ICDKlassifikationssystem

ICD classification, or the International Classification of Diseases, is a standardized coding system for diseases, injuries, and other health conditions. Maintained by the World Health Organization, ICD is used worldwide to record and monitor health data, support clinical decision-making, and facilitate reimbursement and health policy planning. It provides codes that enable consistent documentation, comparison of health trends over time, and international benchmarking.

ICD originated in the late 19th century as a collaborative effort to classify causes of death and has undergone several revisions. ICD-10, published by the WHO in the 1990s, introduced thousands of codes and greater clinical detail. ICD-11, formally released in 2018, represents a modern, electronically friendly revision with expanded codes and post-coordination capabilities to capture more nuanced health information. Many countries have adopted ICD-10 or ICD-11 in national versions, alongside other modifications for coding of procedures and billing.

Codes are organized into chapters by body system or condition. ICD-10 codes are alphanumeric, typically with a letter followed by digits (for example, E11.9 for type 2 diabetes without complications). ICD-11 uses a more flexible, digital-friendly structure and supports post-coordination to express additional details with extension codes.

Applications include national health statistics, epidemiological research, public health surveillance, hospital statistics, clinical documentation improvement, and health insurance billing and reimbursement in many systems.

Limitations include dependence on documentation quality, potential coding errors, and differences in national adaptations and adoption timelines. Updates require training for clinicians and coders, and transitional challenges can affect data comparability during changeovers.