WHO launches new international classification of diseases
With around 55,000 unique codes for injuries, illnesses and causes of death, the ICD is the basis for identifying health trends and statistics around the world.
Image: Mais Médicos professionals provide health services to indigenous populations in Northern Brazil. Photo: Karina Zambrana/UN Brazil
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched on Monday (18) its new International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, the ICD-11. With nearly 55,000 unique codes for injuries, illnesses and causes of death, the document is the basis for identifying health trends and statistics around the world. The publication brings a common language that allows professionals in the field to share information on a global level.
According to the head of the UN agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the CID makes it possible "to understand a lot about what makes people sick and die and act to avoid suffering and save lives."
“For more than a decade in development, ICD-11 offers significant improvements over previous versions. For the first time, it is completely electronic and has a format that makes it easy to use. There was an unprecedented involvement of healthcare professionals, who came together in collaborative meetings and submitted proposals. The ICD team at WHO headquarters received more than 10,000 revision proposals.”
The ICD-11 will be presented for adoption by countries in May 2019, during the World Health Assembly. The document is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2022. The version made available this week is a preview that will allow countries to plan their use, prepare translations and train health professionals.
The publication is used by health insurers who use disease coding to define and guarantee reimbursements. National health program managers, data collection specialists, and other technicians who determine the allocation of health resources also use the ICD extensively.
The document has new chapters, one on traditional medicine. Although millions of people use this type of medical care, it has never been classified under this system. Another unpublished session on sexual health brings together conditions that were previously categorized or described in different ways—for example, gender incongruity was included in mental health conditions. The video game disorder has been added to the section on disorders that can cause addiction.
The 11th version of the ICD reflects the progress of medicine and advances in scientific research. Codes relating to antimicrobial resistance, for example, are more in line with the global surveillance system on the subject, the GLASS. The publication's recommendations also more accurately reflect data on health care safety. This means that unnecessary health-threatening situations – such as unsafe workflows in hospitals – can be identified and reduced.
“One of the most important principles of this review was to simplify the coding structure and electronic tools. This will allow health professionals to record (health) problems more easily and completely” says Robert Jakob, leader of the WHO terminology and standards classification team.
