Received on December 2, 2020, accepted on May 20, 2021, and collected in 2021.
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The Importance of ICD
Evolution in Disease Classification
The latest version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) introduces significant changes to reflect updated disease knowledge and adapt to the digital age.
Implementation and Access
ICD-11 was approved by the World Health Assembly in 2019 and is currently being implemented. Access to ICD-11 is available at icd.who.int.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Informatics, Statistics, eHealth, Classification, International classification of diseases
Significance of Disease Classification
Measurement is crucial for understanding diseases for prevention, treatment, and resource allocation. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has been essential for providing comparable statistics on causes of mortality and morbidity globally for over a century.
The transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 marks a significant advancement in disease classification, driven by medical progress and the digital era. ICD-11 builds on the foundations of its predecessor while introducing innovative features for enhanced use and flexibility.
ICD-11’s comprehensive revision aims to ensure consistency, reliability, and modernization necessary to address evolving medical knowledge and technological advancements.
International Collaboration
ICD-11’s development involved collaboration with various international experts, organizations, and stakeholders in the healthcare industry. This synergy ensured that the framework met the diverse needs and standards of different regions and healthcare systems.
Evidence-Based Updates
One of the key features of ICD-11 is its emphasis on evidence-based updates. The inclusion of new disease knowledge and concepts is supported by robust scientific evidence, ensuring accuracy and relevance in clinical coding and classification.
Quality Improvement Initiatives
ICD-11’s digital communication support and optimized classification system pave the way for quality improvement initiatives in healthcare. By providing detailed and standardized data, healthcare providers can enhance care delivery, treatment outcomes, and resource allocation.
Continual Monitoring and Evaluation
Post-implementation, continual monitoring and evaluation of ICD-11’s effectiveness and impact are essential. This process helps identify areas for improvement, address emerging healthcare trends, and ensure ongoing relevance and usability in the dynamic healthcare landscape.
Conclusions
Modifications in ICD-11 signify advancements in disease comprehension. Improved case descriptions are enabled through combined categories, with governance ensuring ongoing relevance. ICD-11 is structured to transition health information systems into the global, real-time data era.
Furthermore, the implementation of ICD-11 is expected to streamline data collection and analysis, leading to more accurate and efficient disease monitoring. The enhanced coding system will facilitate better communication among healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide, ultimately improving patient care and public health outcomes.
Acknowledgements
In addition to named authors, numerous contributors partook in the ICD-11 revision, including expert groups and staff.
About this supplement
This supplement provides additional information related to the ICD-11 revision process. It includes details on the expert groups involved, the timeline of the revision, and the specific contributions of staff members. The collaborative efforts of all those involved have been essential in the development of this updated version of the International Classification of Diseases.
Abbreviations
Application programming interface
International classification of diseases
ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics
Unique resource identifier
World Health Organization
Authors’ contributions
Authors like JEH, SW, and CGC were all involved in the development of ICD-11. WHO committees provided guidance on the revision process, with travel support given to authors attending meetings.
Funding
This research did not receive grant support, although JEH’s group received funding from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. SW worked at DIMDI, a German health classifications agency. RJ is employed by the WHO, and CGC at Johns Hopkins, both with grant support. Additionally, funding for this research project was also provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Availability of data and materials
Access ICD-11 at icd.who.int.
Declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Consent for publication
Competing interests
WHO provided travel support for committee meetings. JEH’s group at Flinders University received funding from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. SW was associated with DIMDI, now part of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. RJ, a WHO employee, has been involved in ICD matters for an extended period. CGC, now at Johns Hopkins, has NIH-supported work and university funding supporting his WHO contributions.
Footnotes
Joint first author: James E. Harrison and Stefanie Weber
Joint senior author: Robert Jakob and Christopher G. Chute
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains impartial regarding jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Additional Information
This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (Grant Numbers xxxxx and yyyyy) and the World Health Organization. The authors would like to thank all participants who took part in this study.
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Associated Data
This section contains any data citations, availability statements, or additional materials related to the article.
Data Availability Statement
Access ICD-11 at icd. who. int.
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