Reference guide

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1 Part 1 - An Introduction to ICD-11

1.1 Purpose and multiple uses of ICD
The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is a
tool for recording, reporting and grouping conditions and factors that influence health. It
contains categories for diseases, health related conditions, and external causes of
illness or death. The purpose of the ICD is to allow the systematic recording,
analysis, interpretation and comparison of mortality and morbidity data collected
in different countries or areas and at different times. The ICD is used to translate
diagnoses of diseases and other health problems into an alphanumeric code, which
allows storage, retrieval, and analysis of the data. The ICD has become the
international standard diagnostic classification for all general epidemiological and many
health management purposes. These include analysis of general health situations of
population groups, monitoring of incidence and prevalence of diseases, and other
health problems in relation to other variables, such as the characteristics and
circumstances of the affected individuals. ICD is also suitable for studies of financial
aspects of a health system, such as billing or resource allocation.

The ICD has evolved over the past 150 years from an International List of Causes of
Death to a comprehensive classification system for use in mortality, morbidity, casemix,
quality measurement and patient safety. It can be used in primary care, secondary
care, and research. The ICD is used to allocate the majority of global health resources.
Users of the ICD include physicians, nurses, other health care providers, researchers,
health information management professionals, coders, health information technology
workers, analysts, policy-makers, insurers, patient organisations, and many more.

The ICD is used in various settings with different levels of resolution ranging from a set
of 100 codes to more than 10,000 codes. It therefore includes an information
framework that contains a fully specified set of health concepts and their characteristics
and relationships. The ICD–11 ensures consistency with traditional use cases of earlier
ICD versions, because it has been built with the past revisions in mind. Past data
analyses based on older versions of ICD can be linked to analyses of data based on
ICD–11.

All World Health Organization (WHO) Member States are expected to use the most
current version of the ICD for reporting death and illness (according to an international
treaty, the ‘WHO Nomenclature Regulations’, adopted by the World Health Assembly in
1967). ICD–10 has been translated into 43 languages, and ICD–11 has been available
in all 6 official languages since its publication (English, French, Spanish, Russian,
Chinese, Arabic). Most countries (115 in 2017) use the system to report mortality data,
a primary indicator of health status.

The ICD is primarily designed for the classification of diseases and injuries. However,
not every problem or reason for coming into contact with health services can be
categorized in this way. Consequently, the ICD includes a wide variety of signs,
symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints and social factors that represent the content
from health-related records (see section on morbidity). The ICD can therefore be used
to classify data recorded under headings such as ‘Diagnosis’, ‘Reason for admission’,

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‘Conditions treated’ and ‘Reason for consultation’, which appear on a wide variety of
health records from which statistics are derived, for treatment, prevention, or patient
safety.

1.1.1 Intended use

The ICD has been designed to address the needs of a broad range of use cases:
Mortality, morbidity, epidemiology, casemix, quality and safety, primary care. Detailed
information on the different use cases is available in other sections for mortality use
and different morbidity uses. A situation may arise, which anticipates using the ICD-11
for a purpose for which it has not been designed. In this situation, the categorization
used within the ICD-11 and its additional features may not be able to address such a
new use case. In such cases, it is recommended to consult with the WHO to ensure
that the information collected is appropriate to the intended new use.

1.1.2 Classification
A classification is ‘an exhaustive set of mutually exclusive categories to aggregate data
at a pre- prescribed level of specialization for a specific purpose’ (ISO 17115).
Classification involves the categorization of relevant concepts for the purposes of
systematic recording or analysis. The categorization is based on one or more logical
rules. The purpose of a health classification varies. For example, it may be used in the
analysis of cause of death (mortality), morbidity, activity limitation, or participation
restriction. Low frequency concepts tend to be grouped but rare concepts may be
individually classified if necessary. Coding rules must be incorporated in the
classification to achieve consistency of coding and comparability of coded data over
time and space. Classifications are complementary to terminologies, since they are
designed to be used for standardised coding of information for statistical purposes.

1.1.3 ICD in the context of WHO Family of International

Classifications (WHO-FIC)
The WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) comprises classifications
that have been endorsed by the WHO to describe various aspects of health and the
health system in a consistent manner.

The WHO-FIC provides standardised building blocks for health information systems
and consists of three broad groups: Reference classifications, Derived classifications,
and Related classifications.

The Reference and the Derived classifications are based on the Foundation
Component, which is a large collection of terms and their relationships, which describe
health and health related domains.

Terms related to diseases and health related problems are organised into the ICD,
those pertaining to functioning into the ICF, and those related to interventions into ICHI
(International Classification of Health Interventions). Terms from the Foundation
Component may be used in more than one Reference classification.

Derived Statistical Classifications and Tabulations (‘derived classifications’) draw on

terms that may come from one or more of the Reference classifications. Within the
WHO-FIC Family, Related classifications are regarded as complementary to the

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Reference and Derived classifications. Related classifications have their own sets of
terms, but can also share terms as part of the WHO-FIC Family. For example, the
International Classification of Nursing Practice (ICNP), a related classification in the
Family, draws on terms from the Foundation Component in the same way that the
reference and derived classifications draw on terms from the Foundation Component.
ICNP also uses terms specific to nursing practice which are not found in the
Foundation Component, but which may be included in the future.

WHO-FIC Family
Figure 1: Relationships between the WHO Family of International Classifications and
related classification, the Foundation Component, and shared terminologies.

The purpose of the WHO-FIC is to assist the development of reliable statistical systems
at local, national, and international levels, with the aim of improving health status and
health care. The classifications are the property of the WHO or other groups. Health
related information might sometimes require additional detail to that contained in the
ICD. A group or ‘family’ of health relevant classifications covers these needs both by
classification of domains different from those of the ICD and provision of more detail for
specific uses, e.g. cancer registration. The WHO-FIC designates a suite of integrated
classification products that share similar features and can be used singularly or jointly
to provide information on different aspects of health and health care systems. For
example, the ICD as a reference classification is mainly used to capture mortality and
morbidity. Functioning is classified in the International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF) and health interventions in the International Classification of
Health Interventions (ICHI).

In general, the WHO-FIC aims to provide a conceptual framework of information

dimensions which are related to health and health management. In this way, it provides
a common language that improves communication and permits comparisons of data
within countries, across countries, health care disciplines, services, and time. The
WHO and the WHO-FIC Network (including Collaborating Centres, Non-Governmental
Organisations, and selected experts) strive to build the family of classifications based
on sound scientific and taxonomic principles, ensure that it is culturally appropriate and

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internationally applicable, and meet the needs of its different users by focusing on the
multi-dimensional aspects of health.

1.1.4 WHO-FIC: Reference Classifications

Reference classifications cover the main parameters of the health system, such as
death and disease (ICD), disability, functioning, and health (ICF) and health
interventions (ICHI). WHO-FIC reference classifications are a product of international
agreements. They have achieved broad acceptance and official agreement for use and
are approved and recommended as guidelines for international reporting on health.
They may be used as models for the development or revision of other classifications.
The three Reference classifications are:

1. International Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems (ICD)

2. International Classification of Functioning, Disability & Health (ICF)
3. International Classification Health Intervention (ICHI)

[Link] Disability and Functioning – ICF

The ICF is the WHO’s framework for measuring health and functioning/disability at both
the individual and population levels. While the ICD classifies diseases and causes of
death, the ICF classifies health domains. ICD and ICF together provide tools to capture
the full picture of health.

The ICF classifies health and health-related states in two parts. Part one addresses
functioning and disability, described from the perspectives of the body, the individual,
and society, and is composed of two components: Body Functions and Structures and
Activities and Participation life areas. Part two covers contextual factors and has two
components: Environmental Factors and Personal Factors (currently not classified in
ICF), since an individual’s functioning occurs in a context.

Functioning is a generic term for body functions (e.g. memory), body structures
(e.g. occipital lobe), and activities and participation life areas (e.g. walking, engaging in
paid work). It denotes the neutral aspects of the interaction between an individual
(related to the individual’s health) and that individual’s contextual factors
(environmental and personal factors).

Disability is an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation

restrictions. It denotes the negative aspects of the interaction between an individual
(with a health condition) and that individual’s contextual factors (environmental and
personal factors). Disabilities are envisioned as a continuum and therefore the ICF and
the codes within it do not confer an international binary status of disabled/not disabled.
Levels of disability can be used descriptively in clinical settings when formulating a
case. Program and policy decision-makers can apply the ICF and specify their own
standards for the level of disability as eligibility criteria that are relevant for specific
purposes.

ICF includes the following other descriptions:

 Body functions are the physiological functions of body systems (including

psychological functions).

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 Body structures are anatomical parts of the body such as organs, limbs and their
components.
 Impairments are problems in body function or structure such as a significant
deviation or loss.
 Activity is the execution of a task or action by an individual.
 Activity limitations are difficulties an individual may have in executing activities.
 Participation is involvement in a life situation.
 Participation restrictions are problems an individual may experience in
involvement in life situations.
 Environmental factors make up the physical, social and attitudinal environment
in which people live and conduct their lives.

ICF includes codes for Body Functions (b), Body Structures (s), Activities and
Participation (d), and Environmental Factors (e).

ICF codes are only complete with the presence of a qualifier, which denotes the level of
health (i.e. severity of the problem from ‘no problem’ to ‘complete problem’). Without
qualifiers, codes have no inherent meaning. The ICF acknowledges that every human
being can experience a decrement in health and thereby experience some disability.
Disabilities can be temporary and may be brief (such as staying home from work for a
few days with the flu); they can also be chronic or permanent and may fluctuate in
severity over time.

[Link] Interventions – ICHI

Intervention classifications are designed to include all kinds of health interventions for
treatment, diagnosis, or prevention. The International Classification of Health
Interventions (ICHI) includes interventions across all functional sectors of the health
system, covering acute care, primary care, rehabilitation, assistance with functioning,
prevention, public health, and ancillary services. Interventions provided by all types of
providers have been included. The importance of describing and classifying health
interventions has long been understood. An International Classification of Procedures
in Medicine (ICPM) was published by WHO in 1978 but was not maintained. ICHI is
much broader than the former ICPM because it includes the full range of health
interventions. Development of ICHI began in 2007, as a joint effort of the WHO- FIC
Network and WHO. Its structure has been completed, an alpha version published in
2012 and a beta version in 2015. Finalisation is planned for 2019.

Table 1: Descriptions and terms used in creation of ICHI classifications.

Axes Inclusions Example

The Target axis contains the Anatomy, Human function,

entities on which the action is Person or client, Group or
carried out. population

Investigation, Treating,
The Action axis is defined as a Managing, Informing,
deed which is done by an actor to a Assisting, Preventing

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Axes Inclusions Example

target during a health care

intervention.

The Means axis contains the

Approach: the process by
entities describing the processes
which the target of the action open, endoscopic
and methods by which the action is
is accessed
carried out.

Technique used as part of the radiation, magnetic

action resonance

law enforcement,
Method describing how the
method of
action is undertaken
transport.
Other attributes of interventions are included as ‘Means’ in the ICHI Content Model.
The content of the axes has been restricted to attributes that are common to many
interventions. In particular:

 Devices have not been included as an axis because most interventions do not
involve a device and devices change rapidly
 Drugs or other substances administered through an intervention are classified
elsewhere (ICD, The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification with
Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD), INN).

The coding system comprises a 7-character category structure for the three axes:

 Three letters for the Target

 Two letters for the Action
 Two letters for the Means

ICHI is a flat file comprising valid 7 letter combinations of the three axes. For each
intervention included in ICHI, the appropriate 7 letter combination is identified. Not
every possible combination of the three axes represents a valid ICHI domain.

[Link] WHO-FIC: Derived Classifications

Derived classifications are often tailored for use at the national or international level or
for use in a particular specialty. Derived classifications are based upon reference
classifications (ICD, ICF, ICHI). Derived classifications may be prepared by: - adopting
the reference classification structure and classes - providing additional detail beyond
that provided by the reference classification, or through rearrangement or by
aggregation of items from one or more reference classifications.

ICD-11 has specialty linearizations that are derived from the common foundation.
These include a version for dermatology, one for primary care and one for mental
health. Others may follow.

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[Link] Related Classifications

Related classifications are included in WHO-FIC to describe important aspects of
health or the health system not covered by reference or derived classifications. Related
classifications are:

 International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC)

 International Classification of External Causes of Injury (ICECI)
 Technical aids for persons with disabilities (ISO9999)
 The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification with Defined Daily Doses
(ATC/DDD)
 The International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP)

1.1.5 ICD Use in health information systems

Health information systems include a range of different components for collection,

analysis, and use of the data. Information sources could for example be population-
based, health facility- based, or focused on particular diseases. The main population-
based sources of health information are census data, household surveys, and vital
registration systems.

Health facility-related data sources include public health surveillance, health services
data (that may be referred to as health management information systems or routine
health information systems), and health system monitoring data (e.g. human resources,
health infrastructure, financing).

National health accounts are designed to provide a comprehensive picture of health

financing. Coding enables the recording of health information in a language
independent way. Standardization of coding enables both intra- and international data
comparison. For example, ICD coded data can be compared across different sectors of
the health system – if the same coding rules are applied.

Health information systems are increasingly based on digital (electronic) reporting and
coding. ICD–11 is designed to be used in such environments. In many places
information collection is based on paper reporting in a traditional analogue way. ICD–
11 can be produced in a printed version for use in paper based systems.

[Link] Use of ICD–11 in a digital setting and web services

The ICD-11 is used for coding of diagnoses, in electronic health records or electronic
death certificates, or in other places. Special tools facilitate finding specific ICD-11
codes for any of the several dimensions that define an ICD-11 entity or category.
Additional detail can be added using multiple codes for one condition. Retaining the
unique identifier of the coded ICD-11 entity allows the same information to be reused
across different translations. WHO has developed the ICD web services
([Link] designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine
interaction.

[Link] Use of ICD–11 in an analog paper-based setting

The ICD-11 is used as analogue printed version in some countries. Information is
reported on paper version and then coded with the ICD-11. It should be noted that

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paper-based recording requires manual transcription of the information into electronic

systems and should be substituted by electronic reporting as early as possible in the
information chain. Further problems with paper-based recording include readability and
timeliness. ICD-11 supports many ways of computer assisted coding including
sanctioning of code combinations and other possible plausibility checks. The long term
goal for all users should be coding of ICD-11 in an electronic environment.

In the print version, the information is divided into 3 volumes, the tabular list, the
reference guide, and the index. All three are needed to use the ICD correctly.

[Link] Electronic version

In the browser version of the ICD, most information is interlinked and visible in the
relevant context. The WHO provides this version for browsing ICD-11 in multiple
languages (linked from [Link] This tool allows the user to retrieve
concepts by searching terms, anatomy or any other element of the content model. With
this browser, users can also contribute to the updating and continuous improvement of
ICD with comments and solutions. Such input is reviewed for consideration for
inclusion on an annual basis.

ICD–11 can also be accessed using web services with user specific software. The IT
guide to the ICD provides more details on compatibility
requirements: [Link] Both the web services and the online browser
allow access to all Tabular lists of the ICD, for mortality and morbidity statistics, primary
care, or for a specialty linearization for certain specialized domains.

1.1.6 Links with other Classifications and Terminologies

ICD coded entities or categories can be used in conjunction with other health relevant
classifications or terminologies to fully document an episode of care, or a case for
research.

[Link] Integrated use with Terminologies

Classification involves grouping information according to logical rules. Terminology
allows the reporting of information at any desired level of detail: for example, body
parts, findings, or other elements that constitute a disease. Only items defined in a
terminology can be reported on (i.e. Terminologies have no mechanism to report new
information that has not previously been added to the terminology). In contrast, a
classification has residual classes (‘other specified’ or ‘unspecified’) that ensures that
all cases can always be classified. In a terminology, as much as in a modern disease
classification, a disease can be defined, for example by establishing linkages between
its elements, such as anatomy or findings. Terminologies retain the information without
emphasizing any aspect of the recorded information.

In contrast, classifications allow for identification of ‘relevant parts’ of the content, for
example, for public health. International agreement about these relevant parts makes
sure that the aggregated information is internationally comparable. The standardised
use of the aggregation logic of a classification and the standardised use of the detailed
information of a terminology aim at the same result: comparability. International
agreement processes are necessary in both cases – and must be the same as soon as
the same question has to be answered by the aggregation/classification.

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Terminologies and classifications should be considered complementary. The

Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is an example
for a linked terminology within ICD-11. The information coded through SNOMED CT
can be categorized with ICD. Additional terminologies include for example ICD-O, INN
or ICECI.

[Link] Functioning in ICD and joint use with ICF

Historically, the ICD has used certain disability concepts as common disease or
disorder entities, such as: Blindness, Deafness, Mental Retardation, Learning
Disability, or Paraplegia, as well as certain disability concepts for other purposes, such
as ‘disability as a sequela of injury’, and ‘limitation of activities due to disability’. The
ICF was developed after the publication of ICD–10. The ICD–11 has been created both
to share concepts and be used jointly with the ICF. This partnership may assist with the
following tasks:

 evaluation for general medical practice (e.g. fitness for work)

 evaluation for social benefits (e.g. disability, pension)
 payment or reimbursement purposes
 needs assessment (e.g. for rehabilitation, occupational assistance, long term
care.)
 outcome evaluation of interventions

Signs and symptoms in the ICD are aligned with body functions in the ICF, and ‘factors
influencing health status’ in the ICD align with contextual factors in the ICF.

Additional selected ICF categories are drawn from the component activities and
participation and help to describe the functional limitations commonly associated with
the specific health conditions in a functioning pattern. The impact of the disease or
disorder in the daily activities of a person may vary depending on the severity of the
condition as well as the contextual factors (e.g. environmental factors) and possible co-
morbidities. The ICD takes an approach that identifies ‘severity’ as a property of the
disease/disorder and describes the impact of the health condition on the daily life of a
person as a functioning set.

The functioning section that is embedded in ICD serves to generate a summary

functioning score based on assessment of the individual. The set of functioning items in
ICD-11 allows the WHO Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS), and the Model
Disability Survey (MDS, module 4000, Functioning) to be used to generate the
summary score. Wherever full functioning reporting is desired, the ICF should be used.

1.2 Structure and taxonomy of the ICD

Classification System
The chapter and block structure of the ICD has evolved in 11 iterations over 100 years.
The authoring of ICD follows a set of rules that ensure the functional and structural
integrity of the classification. The evolution of ICD carefully balances the need for
categories that match current knowledge while allowing statistical comparability over
space and time.

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The chapter structure of ICD reflects major aspects of diseases. Chapters are not
intended to delimit areas of medical expertise or domains of specialties. The link to any
specialty or reimbursement schemes is secondary. In particular, reimbursement
schemes can be easily adapted. The ICD has categories for diseases, disorders,
syndromes, signs, symptoms, findings, injuries, external causes of morbidity and
mortality, factors influencing health status, reasons for encounter of the health system,
and traditional medicine. ICD-11 complements these categories with additional detail
such as anatomy, substances, infectious agents, or place of injury. ICD-11 also comes
with a set of rules and explanations for its use, required reporting formats, and
necessary metadata.

The most widespread use of ICD over time and geographically is for cause of death
statistics. ICD is also used for classification of clinical documentation, to provide
standardised, language independent information for morbidity use, such as resource
allocation, casemix, patient safety and quality of care, as well as primary care and
research. ICD and its descriptions are also used as a framework in legislation.

1.2.1 Taxonomy
After death statistics, the second most important use of ICD is classification of clinical
documentation to provide pertinent information for resource allocation, casemix, patient
safety and quality of care as well as primary care and other kinds of statistics. A
statistical classification of diseases must be confined to a limited number of mutually
exclusive categories able to encompass the complete range of morbid conditions. The
categories are chosen to facilitate the statistical study of disease phenomena. Every
disease or morbid condition must have a well-defined place in the list of categories.
Consequently, throughout the classification, there will be residual categories for other
and miscellaneous conditions that cannot be allocated to the more specific categories.
The following measures apply in determining whether an entity qualifies to become a
unique category:

1. Epidemiological evidence: frequency analyses of coded mortality and morbidity

data
2. Clinical evidence: disease evidence provided by the medical specialties
3. Granularity: minimum detail reported and useful in mortality (mortality data) or
primary care
4. Continuity: preserve the level of detail pre-existing in ICD
5. Parsimony: the need to limit the number of categories for international
mandatory reporting

A statistical classification can allow for different levels of detail if it has a hierarchical
structure and subdivisions. A statistical classification of diseases should retain the
ability both to identify specific disease entities and to allow statistical presentation of
data for broader groups, to enable the attainment of useful and understandable
information. The same general principles apply to the classification of other health
problems and reasons for contact with health-care services, which are also
incorporated in the ICD. The ICD has developed as a practical, rather than a purely
theoretical classification, in which there are a number of compromises between
classification based on aetiology, anatomical site, circumstances of onset, or other
criteria.

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ICD-11 draws extensively on the method of combining several codes to describe a

clinical condition to the desired level of detail. Its electronic architecture allows
assignment of unique identifiers to any condition listed - independently whether the
condition is grouped in a statistical class or whether it represents a class of its own.
The two approaches together allow the option of keeping coding simple where
diagnostic detail is limited; and the alternative to add detail where diagnostic reporting
requires a high level of sophistication.

1.2.2 Chapter structure

The ICD is a variable-axis classification. The structure has developed out of that
proposed by William Farr in the early days of international discussions on classification
structure: epidemic diseases, constitutional or general diseases, local diseases
arranged by site, developmental diseases, injuries.

These groups remain in the chapters of ICD–11. The structure has stood the test of
time and, though in some ways arbitrary, is still regarded as more useful for general
epidemiological purposes than any of the alternatives tested. The conservation of the
structure acknowledges the need for stability while allowing incorporation of additional
sections.

The special groups bring together conditions that would be inconveniently arranged for
epidemiological study were they to be scattered, for instance in a classification
arranged primarily by anatomical site. These conditions formulate the ‘special
groups’ chapters:

Chapter Title

1 Certain infectious or parasitic diseases

2 Neoplasms

3 Diseases of the blood or blood-forming organs

4 Diseases of the immune system

18 Pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium

19 Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period

20 Developmental anomalies

22 Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external cause

The distinction between the ‘special groups’ chapters and the ‘body systems’ chapters
has practical implications for understanding the structure of the classification, for
coding to it, and for interpreting statistics based on it. It has to be remembered that, in
general, conditions are primarily classified to one of the ‘special groups’ chapters.

Where there is any doubt as to where a condition should be positioned, the ‘special
groups’ chapters should take priority. This principle is enforced in the ‘excludes’ notes
at the beginning of each chapter in the ICD. For example, cervical dysplasia grade 1 is
coded to Chapter 2 ‘Neoplasms’ because distinction between dysplasia and neoplasia

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and clinical management are subject to a set of recommended criteria that may change
over time.

1.2.3 Revision major steps

The revision of ICD-11 has taken place in several phases. First, a list of issues that
were known from the use of ICD-10 and that could not be solved in its classification
structure was compiled and possible solutions were formulated.

Second, input was received from many scientific groups in the key subject areas with a
focus on the clinical perspective.

Finally, centralised editing occurred, aimed to adjust imbalances in content generated

by multiple, independently operating expert groups in the previous phase of the
revision, and to ensure the overall structure is consistent and practicable for users in
mortality and morbidity statistics. The final version also received input from field testing,
Member State comments, and ongoing submission and processing of proposals.

1.2.4 General features of ICD-11

The main structural innovation of ICD–11 is that it is built on a Foundation Component
from which the tabular list (the statistical classification for morbidity and mortality) can
be derived.

Table 1: ICD-11 Terminology

ICD-11 Term Explanation

Underlying data base content that holds all necessary

information to generate print versions of the tabular list and
Foundation component the alphabetical index, as well as additional information that is
needed to generate specialty linearizations of ICD-11 and
country specific modifications.

Stem codes are codes that can be used alone. They are
found in the tabular list of ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity
Statistics. Stem codes may be entities or groupings of high
Stem code relevance, or clinical conditions that should always be
described as one single category. The design of stem codes
makes sure that in use cases that require only one code per
case, a meaningful minimum of information is collected.

Extension codes are designed to standardise the way

additional information is added to a stem code when users
and settings are interested in reporting more detail than is
Extension code included in a stem code. Extension codes can never be used
without a stem code and can never appear in the first position
in a cluster.

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ICD-11 Term Explanation

Stem codes may contain all pertinent information about a

Precoordination clinical concept in a pre-combined fashion. This is referred to
as ‘precoordination’.

Example: BD50.40 Abdominal aortic aneurysm with

perforation

Example: CA40.04 Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma

pneumoniae

Postcoordination refers to linking (through cluster coding)

Postcoordination multiple codes (i.e. stem codes and/or extension codes)
together, to fully describe a documented clinical concept.

Cluster coding refers to a convention used (either forward

slash (/) or ampersand (&)) to show more than one code used
Cluster coding together (e.g. stem code/stem code(s)&extension code(s)) to
describe a documented clinical concept.

Example: Diagnosis: Duodenal ulcer with acute

haemorrhage, Cluster: DA63.Z/ME24.90; Condition - DA63
Duodenal ulcer, unspecified; Has manifestation (use
additional code, if desired) - ME24.90 Acute gastrointestinal
bleeding, not elsewhere classified

The hierarchy of ICD-11 is defined the same as it was in

Primary and previous versions of ICD. The possibility to connect specific
secondary diseases and concepts within the classification to another
parent code was introduced to enable specific extracts of the
parents
Tabular list for medical specialties or for specific use cases.

Example: A code for a malignant neoplasm of the skin is in

the chapter for malignant neoplasms. The primary parent for
this code is a code or a block from this chapter. However, a
medical doctor treating only skin diseases might want to see
only codes from the classification that are relevant for his or
her specific clinical purpose. Therefore, a secondary parent
was defined in the skin chapter which will only show the code
in this chapter if the specific extract of code for his or her use
case is selected.

[Link] Coding scheme

 The coding scheme always has a letter in the second position to differentiate
from the codes of ICD–10.
 In ICD–11, the first character of the code always relates to the chapter number.
It may be a number or a letter. The code range of a single chapter always has
the same character in the first position.
 In order to describe a causal relationship between conditions in a code title the
preferred term is ‘due to’.

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 In order to indicate the concurrence of two conditions in a code title the preferred
term is ‘associated with’.

The codes of the ICD–11 are alphanumeric and cover the range from 1A00.00 to
[Link]. Codes starting with ‘X’ indicate an extension code (see Extension codes).
The inclusion of a forced number at the 3rd character position prevents spelling
‘undesirable words’. The letters ‘O’ and ‘I’ are omitted to prevent confusion with the
numbers ‘0’ and ‘1’. Chapters are indicated by the first character. For example, 1A00 is
a code in Chapter 1, and BA00 is a code in Chapter 11.

[Link] Extension codes

ICD–11 allows for adding specific detail to coded entities using the following
mechanisms:

1. The extension codes comprised of groups of codes e.g. anatomy, agent,

histopathology and other aspects that may be used to add detail to a stem code.
Extension codes are not to be used alone but must be added to a stem code.
Not all extension codes can be used with every stem code.
2. ‘Code also’ instructions provide additional aetiological information which is
mandatory to code in conjunction with certain categories, because that
additional information is relevant for primary tabulation. The ‘code also’
instruction marks the categories that must be used in conjunction with the
indicated condition. In some instances, they may be a reason for treatment in
their own right, where aetiology is unknown.
3. ICD–11 has an explicit way of marking codes that are postcoordinated to
describe one condition, called cluster coding. This is a notable new feature in
ICD-11 that creates an ability to link core diagnostic concepts (i.e. stem code
concepts) when desired, and/or to add clinical concepts captured in extension
codes to primary stem code concepts. Either way, it should be emphasized that
the clustering ability inherent to ICD-11 is one of the significant changes relative
to ICD-10.

[Link] Other general features

ICD–11 categories have short and long descriptions labelled ‘additional information’.
The short description is a maximum of 100 words on the entity that states things that
are always true about a disease or condition and necessary to understand the scope of
the rubric. It appears in the tabular list of the classification. The long ‘additional
information’ is the full description, without length restriction.

 Special tabulation lists continue to exist in ICD-11, but there are three additional
lists - the Startup Mortality List (SMoL), the list for verbal autopsy, and the list for
infectious diseases by agent. Specialty linearizations allow the representation of
content from the angle of a specialty, such as dermatology or neurology,
creating subsets, and allowing the pre-coordination of more detail, if desired.
 For morbidity, the definition of main condition has changed to be the condition
that is determined to be the reason for admission, established at the end of the
stay. This definition is less prone to interpretation, and countries that had
switched from the ‘most resource intensive’ definition to the ‘reason for
admission established at the end of the stay’ using ICD-10, noticed only small
changes in their activity statistics.

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1.2.5 Foundation Component and Tabular Lists of ICD–11

The Foundation Component is a multidimensional collection of all ICD entities. Entities
can be diseases, disorders, injuries, external causes, signs and symptoms. Some
entities may be very broad, for example ‘injury of the arm’, while others are more
detailed, for example ‘laceration of the skin of the thumb’. The Foundation Component
also has the necessary information to use the entities to build a tabular list. The
Foundation Component includes information on where and how a certain entity is
represented in a tabular list, whether it becomes a grouping, a category with a stem
code, or whether it is mentioned as an inclusion term in a particular category.

Several different tabular lists can be built from the Foundation Component. Drawing on
the same Foundation Component, a set of tabular lists that builds on the same
hierarchical tree can be created – a set of so called congruent tabular lists. The
Foundation Component includes instructions on how to combine certain codes in a
tabular list to achieve more detail in coding. These rules help coders and computer
systems to visualize the permitted code combinations when they are using a tabular
list.

In a tabular list, entities of the Foundation Component become categories. The

categories are mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive and linked to a mono
hierarchical tree (they have only one parent). The information related to an entity that
has become a category and has multiple parents is still available from the Foundation
Component. This information can be used to visualize that category in more than one
place in the tabular list, e.g. showing them in black font in its place for reference
tabulation and in grey font in any other place for browsing or alternative tabulations.
ICD–11 has multiple congruent tabular lists with varying levels of detail.

[Link] Precoordination and Postcoordination, Cluster coding

A health condition may be described to any level of detail, by applying more than one
code, or by ‘postcoordinating’ (i.e. combining):

 two or more stem codes, (i.e. code1/code2)

 stem codes with one or more extension codes. (i.e. stem code & extension
code1 & extension code2)

In this manner, the classification can address a large number of clinical concepts with a
limited range of categories.

Stem codes contain all pertinent information in a pre-combined fashion. This is referred
to as ‘precoordination’. When additional detail that pertains to a condition is described
by combining multiple codes, this is referred to as ‘postcoordination’. The mechanism
of showing that codes are postcoordinated is called cluster coding in ICD-11.

Example

Precoordination of concepts in a single code

Condition: 2C25.2 Squamous cell carcinoma of bronchus or lung.

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In precoordination, both site and pathology are combined in a single precoordinated

stem code.

Example

Postcoordination of concepts combined through cluster coding

In postcoordination, the condition urinary tract infection due to Extended spectrum

beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli’ is expressed through a combination of two
linked or clustered stem codes.

Condition: GC08.0 Urinary tract infection, site not specified, due to Escherichia coli

Has manifestation (use additional code, if desired): MG50.27 Extended-spectrum beta-

lactamase producing Escherichia coli

Cluster code: GC08.0/MG50.27

[Link] Multiple Parenting

An entity may be correctly classified in two different places, e.g. by site or by aetiology.
For a disease like oesophageal cancer this would mean that it could be classified to
cancers (malignant neoplasms) or to conditions of the digestive system. In the same
way, cerebral ischaemic conditions could be classified to the vascular system – where
the problem arises - or to the nervous system – where the ischaemia impacts and
manifests with symptoms.

1.2.6 Language independent ICD entities

ICD-11 entities are language independent. All entities have uniform resource indicator
(URI), and have a specific place in a hierarchy of groups, categories, and narrower
terms. The maintenance of the ICD-11 on an international level is handled in the
English language but the content model of ICD–11 is language independent and allows
binding of any desired language to the elements of its Foundation Component. In this
way, an international translation base facilitates translations or multilingual browsing.

1.2.7 Organisation of a Congruent System

Many countries use a single coding system (tabular list) for all use cases. Congruent,
telescopically expandable and collapsible purpose-independent subsets for morbidity
coding in different settings (comparable to Verbal Autopsy, or initial implementation
lists for mortality) allow gathering of information at different levels of detail and still
allow for comparison of the collected information at the level of the common
description.

1.3 Main Uses of the ICD: Mortality

Mortality statistics are widely used for medical research, monitoring of public health,
evaluating health interventions, and planning and follow-up of health care. Rules
adopted by the World Health Assembly regarding the selection of a single cause or
condition, from death certificates, for routine tabulation of mortality statistics are
provided to standardise production of mortality data. Implementation of the ICD for

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mortality requires setting up an infrastructure for reporting and storing information,

designing information flows, quality assurance and feedback, and training for
classification users working with the input or output of data.

1.4 Main Uses of the ICD: Morbidity

Morbidity data are used for statistical reporting mostly at national or local levels. While
some of this statistical reporting is conducted within an academic research context, it is
commonly conducted in applied settings to inform health system and public health
agency decision- making. ICD coded data also forms the basis of different casemix
systems, such as different varieties of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs). Coded
morbidity data can also be used to inform a variety of clinical guidelines through
provision of Foundation Component information on burden of disease.

1.4.1 What is coded: Conditions of patient

The health care practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment is also responsible
for documenting the patient’s health conditions. This information should be organised
systematically by using standard recording methods. A properly completed record is
essential for good patient management. It is also an essential prerequisite to the
creation of a valid coded record of patient diagnoses, derived through a coding process
from written information describing a patient’s medical condition. When a sound written
record of patient conditions is available, successful coding of this information in ICD
and associated classifications produces a valuable source of epidemiological and other
statistical data on morbidity and other health care problems. The person transforming
the information on the stated condition to codes (the ‘coder’) may be the health care
practitioner or a clinical coder (who is not responsible for the patient’s treatment). In the
latter situation, which is quite common among member countries, the coder depends
on the adequacy of clinical documentation of patient conditions by health care
practitioners in the medical record. The primary importance of clinical documentation
by health care practitioners as the starting point for coded health data cannot be
overstated, and needs to be underlined as being a matter of key importance within
countries and internationally – with implications for health information and clinical
documentation teaching within health care practitioner training programs.

1.5 Traditional Medicine

Traditional Medicine (TM) is an integral part of health services provided in many
countries. International standardization by including Traditional Medicine within the ICD
allows for measuring, counting, comparing, formulating questions and monitoring over
time. Although some of these countries have had national classification systems for
many years, information from such systems has not been standardised or available
globally.

It is recommended that coding of cases with ICD-11’s chapter on Traditional Medicine

disorders and patterns (TM1) be used in conjunction with the Western Medicine
concepts of ICD Chapters 1-25. Such integration will bring community benefit and
enable issues such as safety and efficacy of treatments for different conditions to be
established. The Traditional Medicine (TM1) chapter can also be used alone.

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As with other ICD chapters, the TM1 chapter is not judging TM practice or the efficacy
of any TM intervention. As a tool for classifying, diagnosing, counting, communicating
and comparing TM conditions, it will also assist research and evaluation to assess the
safety and efficacy of TM.

1.6 ICD maintenance and application

The ICD maintenance process allows the updating of the ICD following the evolution in
the understanding of diseases, treatments, and prevention. It also ensures
improvements and clarifications coming from daily use of ICD, and requests by
Member States. A proposal and review mechanism on the online platform makes the
process transparent. Workflows ensure that proposed changes are considered both
from a medical and scientific perspective and from their value and place in a particular
use case. As a result, the Foundation Component and the related tabular list(s) will be
released in updated versions.

1.6.1 ICD–11 Update Process

Official releases of the ICD-11 MMS classification are produced annually for
international use in mortality and morbidity (blue browser). A standardised process has
been established to ensure that the proposed updates are collected, routed, reviewed,
and duly considered before being implemented. The updating is carried out at different
levels with different frequencies. Updates that impact on the 4 and 5 digit structures will
be published every 5 years. Updates at a more detailed level can be published more
frequently. Additions to the index can be done on an ongoing basis. Mortality and
morbidity rules that have serious impact on statistics will be updated in long term cycles
of 10 years.

[Link] Proposals and Review Mechanisms and workflow

Any individual can submit a proposal for an update to the ICD. Such updates can refer
to one or more entities of the ICD. They may address the position of entities in a
tabular list, in the Foundation Component, and any element of the content model. The
maintenance platform of ICD-11 (orange browser) is used for proposals and
comments. Any input to ICD-11 and its components requires proper mention of
sources, scientific evidence, and permission by the owner of the copyright, where
applicable.

1.6.2 Applicability and Intellectual Property

The following paragraph provides an overview of the legal regulations in relation to
ICD. It is understood that this text does not prejudge in any way the wording of the
legal arrangements that are made between WHO and the relevant parties.

The ICD is intellectual property of WHO and changes to the ICD are subject to
contractual arrangements and approval through the updating mechanism.

ICD is distributed free of charge.

Users may access and use the ICD from the Internet for personal use. Users will
register and agree to the end user license agreement prior to accessing ICD files for
download.

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Web services for ICD coding and browsing are available subject relevant agreements.

The ICD may be translated into any language. For translation, interested parties (the
Translator) are requested to contact the WHO and comply with the relevant regulations
in a contract. The Translator will use the WHO translation platform, thus allowing the
WHO to verify correctness and completeness of the translation. The translations of
WHO official languages are a product of WHO and all rights are vested with WHO.
Translations of other languages are a product of the Translator. WHO is automatically
granted a perpetual and irrevocable, non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, sub-
licensable right to use, change, adapt, translate, publish, and disseminate such work
product in any manner and in any format in conjunction with the work of WHO. Any
adaptation, translation, publication (including in scientific journals), and dissemination
to be made by either party will be coordinated between them.

In some instances, users may feel the need to change parts of the ICD in order to
produce a special version of ICD. Production of special versions require a dedicated
contractual arrangement with WHO.
Such versions will be produced from the WHO production platform by WHO. All
changes to ICD must be submitted on the WHO-ICD maintenance platform (for details
see Section 1.6.1 ICD–11 Update Process).
Requests for production of a special version will be subject to requests for funding of
the related work.

For international reporting, the most up to date version of the ICD is used, as stipulated
in the Nomenclature Regulations (1967).

No publicity may be displayed in the coding or browsing pages. In case of embedding

in a local website, or running a local version, a link to the ICD homepage at the WHO
must be included. No publicity may be displayed in the ICD print versions.

Ideally users will access the ICD online or through the web services. This will ensure
proper joint use of index, content model, and tabular lists and facilitate dissemination of
updates, where applicable. Any coding mechanism produced by 3rd parties must
provide the same coding results as the reference online coding tool.

1.6.3 National Modifications for morbidity coding

The use of ICD in the specific context of the health care system of a country may
require the development of modifications to the ICD-11, for example, due to specific
settings or due to reimbursement system requirements. Such changes will be subject
to the same international process as are all other changes to ICD, then become part of
the Foundation Component and eventually of the MMS, prior to their implementation in
the requesting country.

A situation may arise, where a national government or an equally important national

body needs a modification to be implemented immediately. In such circumstances,
conflicts with the current Foundation Component must be avoided, and the relevant
changes will be subject to special mechanisms of the international updating process.
All countries planning to produce national modifications must make relevant contractual
arrangements with WHO. This includes regulations on distribution within the respective
country and the resources necessary.

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For developing a national modification of ICD-11 the following rules must be followed:

1. Modifications will be ideally agreed by the ICD-11 maintenance bodies before

they are implemented nationally
2. Modifications should not impact on Morbidity and Mortality Statistics, and should
not conflict with the foundation.
3. National modifications will consider if suitable additional detail exists already in
the foundation.
4. If a change is performed to the international version the respective national
modification must be adapted as soon as possible.

Example

‘Diabetes Type 1’ in WHO Version of ICD-11 is 5A10. In a national modification there

might be the need for additional detail which can be added in the routine notation of
ICD-11 codes: ‘Diabetes Type 1, uncontrolled’ can be coded in that national
modification to 5A10; Diabetes Type 1, uncontrolled’ to 5A10.1 However, the
mechanisms for postcoordination via cluster coding would allow to code that detail
without additional pre-coordination.

1.7 History of the development of the ICD

1.7.1 Early history
Sir George Knibbs, the eminent Australian statistician, credited François Bossier de
Lacroix (1706-1777), better known as Sauvages, with the first attempt to classify
diseases systematically (1). Sauvages’ comprehensive treatise was published under
the title Nosologia methodica. A contemporary of Sauvages was the great
methodologist Linnaeus (1707-1778), author of Genera morborum, a catalogue of
diseases. More recently, Moriyama et al (2) have referred to 16th century and 17th
predecessors Fernel and Sydenham. At the beginning of the 19th century, the
classification of disease in most general use was one by William Cullen (1710- 1790, of
Edinburgh, which was published in 1785 under the title Synopsis nosologiae
methodicae.

For all practical purposes, however, the statistical study of disease began a century
earlier with the work of John Graunt on the London Bills of Mortality published in 1662.
The kind of classification envisaged by this pioneer is exemplified by his attempt to
estimate the proportion of liveborn children who died before reaching the age of six,
when no records of age at death were available. He took all deaths classed them using
terms from the time, such as thrush, convulsions, rickets, teeth and worms, abortives,
chrysomes, infants, livergrown, and overlaid and added to them half the deaths classed
as smallpox, swinepox, measles, and worms without convulsions. Despite the crudity of
this classification, his estimate of 36% mortality before the age of six years appears
from later evidence to have been a good one. While three centuries have contributed to
the scientific accuracy of disease classification, there are many who doubt the
usefulness of attempts to compile statistics of disease, or even causes of death,
because of the difficulties of classification. To these, one can quote Major Greenwood:
‘The scientific purist, who will wait for medical statistics until they are nosologically
exact, is no wiser than Horace’s rustic waiting for the river to flow away’ (3).

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Fortunately for the progress of preventive medicine, the General Register Office of
England and Wales, at its inception in 1837, found in William Farr (1807-1883) – its first
medical statistician. Farr was a man who not only made the best possible use of the
imperfect classifications of disease available at the time, but laboured to secure better
classifications and international uniformity in their use.

Farr found Cullen’s classification in use in the public services. It had not been revised
to embody the advances of medical science, nor was it deemed by him to be
satisfactory for statistical purposes. Farr realised that small numbers that would result
from a detailed classification would not permit statistical inferences to be made. In the
first Annual Report of the Registrar General (4), therefore, he discussed the principles
that should govern a statistical classification of disease and urged the adoption of a
uniform classification as follows:

The advantages of a uniform statistical nomenclature, however imperfect, are so

obvious, that it is surprising no attention has been paid to its enforcement in Bills of
Mortality. Each disease has, in many instances, been denoted by three or four terms,
and each term has been applied to as many different diseases: vague, inconvenient
names have been employed, or complications have been registered instead of primary
diseases. The nomenclature is of as much importance in this department of inquiry as
weights and measures in the physical sciences, and should be settled without delay.

Both nomenclature and statistical classification received constant study and

consideration by Farr in his annual ‘Letters’ to the Registrar General published in the
Annual Reports of the Registrar General. Farr did much to promote his classification
but could not find general acceptance (4). The utility of a uniform classification of
causes of death was so strongly recognized at the first International Statistical
Congress, held in Brussels in 1853, that the Congress requested William Farr and
Genevan Marc d’Espine to prepare an internationally applicable, uniform classification
of causes of death.

At the next Congress, in Paris in 1855, Farr and d’Espine submitted two separate lists
which were based on very different principles. Farr’s classification was arranged under
five groups: epidemic diseases, constitutional (general) diseases, local diseases
arranged according to anatomical site, developmental diseases, and diseases that are
the direct result of violence. D’Espine classified diseases according to their nature
(gouty, herpetic, haematic, etc.). The Congress adopted a compromise list of 139
rubrics. In 1864, this classification was revised in Paris on the basis of Farr’s model
and was subsequently further revised in 1874, 1880, and 1886. Although this
classification was never universally accepted, the general arrangement proposed by
Farr, including the principle of classifying diseases by aetiology followed by anatomical
site, survived as the basis of the International List of Causes of Death.

Importantly, the 1855 Congress also recommended that each country should ask for
information on causes of death from the doctor who had been attending the deceased,
and that each country should take measures to ensure that all deaths were verified by
doctors (4).

1.7.2 Adoption of the International List of Causes of Death

At its 1891 meeting in Vienna, the International Statistical Institute, the successor to the
International Statistical Congress, charged a committee chaired by Jacques Bertillon
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(1851- 1922), Chief of Statistical Services of the City of Paris, with the preparation of a
classification of causes of death. The committee’s report was presented and adopted at
the meeting of the International Statistical Institute in Chicago in 1893.

For main headings, Bertillon adopted the anatomical site rather than the nature of
disease, according to Farr’s plan. Bertillon’s list included defined diseases most worthy
of study by reason of their transmissible nature or their frequency of occurrence. In
accordance with the instructions of the Vienna Congress, Bertillon included three
classifications: an abridged classification of 44 titles; a classification of 99 titles; and a
classification of 161 titles. Bertillon also prepared some rules or guidelines on the
resolution of problems; for example, how statistical clerks should classify what is
written without imputing what the doctor might have meant (5). The ‘Bertillon
Classification of Causes of Death’, as it was first called, received general approval and
was adopted by several countries, as well as by many cities. The classification was first
used in North America by Jesus E. Monjaras for the statistics of San Luis de Potosi,
Mexico (5). In 1898, the American Public Health Association, at its meeting in Ottawa,
Canada, recommended the adoption of the Bertillon Classification by registrars of
Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America. The Association further suggested
that the classification should be revised every ten years.

At the meeting of the International Statistical Institute at Christiania in 1899, Bertillon

presented a report on the progress of the classification, including the recommendations
of the American Public Health Association for decennial revisions. The International
Statistical Institute then adopted the following resolution (6): The International
Statistical Institute, convinced of the necessity of using in the different countries
comparable nomenclatures:

Learns with pleasure of the adoption by all the statistical offices of North America, by
some of those of South America, and by some in Europe, of the system of cause of
death nomenclature presented in 1893; Insists vigorously that this system of
nomenclature be adopted in principle and without revision, by all the statistical
institutions of Europe; Approves, at least in its general lines, the system of decennial
revision proposed by the American Public Health Association at its Ottawa session
(1898); Urges the statistical offices who have not yet adhered, to do so without delay,
and to contribute to the comparability of the cause of death nomenclature.

The French Government therefore assembled in Paris, in August 1900, the first
International Conference for the Revision of the Bertillon or International List of Causes
of Death. Delegates from 26 countries attended this Conference. A detailed
classification of causes of death consisting of 179 groups and an abridged
classification of 35 groups was adopted on 21 August 1900. The desire for decennial
revisions was recognized, and the French Government was requested to call the next
meeting in 1910. In fact, the next conference was held in 1909, and the Government of
France called succeeding conferences in 1920, 1929, and 1938. Bertillon continued to
be the guiding force in the promotion of the International List of Causes of Death, and
the revisions of 1900, 1910, and 1920 were carried out under his leadership. As
Secretary- General of the International Conference, he sent out the provisional revision
for 1920 to more than 500 people, asking for comments. His death in 1922 left the
International Conference without a guiding hand.

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At the 1923 session of the International Statistical Institute, Michel Huber, Bertillon’s
successor in France, recognized this lack of leadership and introduced a resolution for
the International Statistical Institute to renew its stand of 1893 in regard to the
International Classification of Causes of Death and to cooperate with other international
organisations in preparation for subsequent revisions. The Health organisation of the
League of Nations had also taken an active interest in vital statistics and appointed a
Commission of Statistical Experts to study the classification of diseases and causes of
death, as well as other problems in the field of medical statistics. E. Roesle, Chief of
the Medical Statistical Service of the German Health Bureau and a member of the
Commission of Statistical Experts, prepared a monograph that listed the expansion in
the rubrics of the 1920 International List of Causes of Death that would be required if
the classification were to be used in the tabulation of statistics of morbidity. This careful
study was published by the Health organisation of the League of Nations in 1928 (7). In
order to coordinate the work of both agencies, an international ‘Mixed Commission’
was created with an equal number of representatives from the International Statistical
Institute and the Health organisation of the League of Nations. This Commission
drafted the proposals for the Fourth (1929) and the Fifth (1938) revisions of the
International List of Causes of Death.

1.7.3 The Fifth Decennial Revision Conference

The Fifth International Conference for the Revision of the International List of Causes
of Death, like the preceding conferences, was convened by the Government of France
and was held in Paris in October 1938. The Conference approved three lists: a detailed
list of 200 titles, an intermediate list of 87 titles and an abridged list of 44 titles. Apart
from bringing the lists up to date in accordance with the progress of science,
particularly in the chapter on infectious and parasitic diseases, and changes in the
chapters on puerperal conditions and on accidents, the Conference made as few
changes as possible in the contents, number, and even in the numbering of the items.
A list of causes of stillbirth was also drawn up and approved by the Conference.

As regards classification of diseases for morbidity statistics, the Conference recognized

the growing need for a corresponding list of diseases to meet the statistical
requirements of widely differing organisations, such as health insurance organisations,
hospitals, military medical services, health administrations, and similar bodies. The
following resolution, therefore, was adopted (8):

[Link] International Lists of Diseases

 In view of the importance of the compilation of international lists of diseases
corresponding to the international lists of causes of death: The Conference
recommends that the Joint Committee appointed by the International Institute of
Statistics and the Health organisation of the League of Nations undertake, as in
1929, the preparation of international lists of diseases, in conjunction with
experts and representatives of the organisations specially concerned. Pending
the compilation of international lists of diseases, the Conference recommends
that the various national lists in use should, as far as possible, be brought into
line with the detailed International List of Causes of Death (the numbers of the
chapters, headings and subheadings in the said List being given in brackets).
The Conference further recommended that the United States Government

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continue its studies of the statistical treatment of joint causes of death in the
following resolution (9):
o Death Certificate and Selection of Causes of Death where more than One
Cause is given (Joint Causes) The Conference,
 Whereas, in 1929, the United States Government was good
enough to undertake the study of the means of unifying the
methods of selection of the main cause of death to be tabulated in
those cases where two or more causes are mentioned on the
death certificate,
 And whereas, the numerous surveys completed or in the course of
preparation in several countries reveal the importance of this
problem, which has not yet been solved,
 And whereas, according to these surveys, the international
comparability of death rates from the various diseases requires,
not only the solution of the problem of the selection of the main
tabulated cause of death, but also the solution of a number of
other questions;
o Warmly thanks the United States Government for the work it has
accomplished or promoted in this connection;
 Requests the United States Government to continue its investigations during the
next ten years, in cooperation with other countries and organisations, on a
slightly wider basis, and
 Suggests that, for these future investigations, the United States Government
should set up a subcommittee comprising representatives of countries and
organisations participating in the investigations undertaken in this connection.

1.7.4 Previous classifications of diseases for morbidity

statistics
In the discussion so far, classification of disease has been presented almost wholly in
relation to cause-of-death statistics. Farr, however, recognized that it was desirable “to
extend the same system of nomenclature to diseases which, though not fatal, cause
disability in the population, and now figure in the tables of the diseases of armies,
navies, hospitals, prisons, lunatic asylums, public institutions of every kind, and
sickness societies, as well as in the census of countries like Ireland, where the
diseases of all the people are enumerated” (10). In his ‘Report on nomenclature and
statistical classification of diseases’, presented to the Second International Statistical
Congress, he therefore included in the general list of diseases most of those diseases
that affect health as well as diseases that are fatal. At the Fourth International
Statistical Congress, held in London in 1860, Florence Nightingale urged the adoption
of Farr’s classification of diseases for the tabulation of hospital morbidity in the paper,
‘Proposals for a uniform plan of hospital statistics’.

At the First International Conference to revise the Bertillon Classification of Causes of

Death in Paris in 1900, a parallel classification of diseases for use in statistics of
sickness was adopted. A parallel list was also adopted at the second conference in
1909. The extra categories for non-fatal diseases were formed by subdivision of certain
rubrics of the cause-of-death classification into two or three disease groups, each of
these being designated by a letter. The translation in English of the Second Decennial
Revision, published by the United States Department of Commerce and Labor in 1910,
was entitled International Classification of Causes of Sickness and Death. Later

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revisions incorporated some of the groups into the detailed International List of Causes
of Death. The Fourth International Conference adopted a classification of illness which
differed from the detailed International List of Causes of Death only by the addition of
further subdivisions of 12 titles. These international classifications of illnesses,
however, failed to receive general acceptance, as they provided only a limited
expansion of the basic cause-of-death list.

In the absence of a uniform classification of diseases that could be used satisfactorily

for statistics of illness, many countries found it necessary to prepare their own lists. A
Standard Morbidity Code was prepared by the Dominion Council of Health of Canada
and published in 1936. The main subdivisions of this code represented the 18 chapters
of the 1929 Revision of the International List of Causes of Death, and these were
subdivided into some 380 specific disease categories. At the Fifth International
Conference in 1938, the Canadian delegate introduced a modification of this list for
consideration as the basis for an international list of causes of illness. Although no
action was taken on this proposal, the Conference adopted the resolution quoted
above.

In 1944, provisional classifications of diseases and injuries were published in both the
United Kingdom and the United States for use in the tabulation of morbidity statistics.
Both classifications were more extensive than the Canadian list, but, like it, followed the
general order of diseases in the International List of Causes of Death. The British
classification was prepared by the Committee on Hospital Morbidity Statistics of the
Medical Research Council, which was created in January 1942. It is entitled ‘A
provisional classification of diseases and injuries for use in compiling morbidity
statistics’ (8). It was prepared with the purpose of providing a scheme for collecting and
recording statistics of patients admitted to hospitals in the United Kingdom, using a
standard classification of diseases and injuries, and was used throughout the country
by governmental and other agencies.

A few years earlier, in August 1940, the Surgeon-General of the United States Public
Health Service and the Director of the United States Bureau of the Census published a
list of diseases and injuries for tabulation of morbidity statistics (9). The code was
prepared by the Division of Public Health Methods of the Public Health Service in
cooperation with a committee of consultants appointed by the Surgeon-General. ‘The
Manual for coding causes of illness according to a diagnosis code for tabulating
morbidity statistics’, consisting of the diagnosis code, a tabular list of inclusions, and an
alphabetical index, was published in 1944. The code was used in several hospitals, in a
large number of voluntary hospital insurance plans and medical care plans, and in
special studies by other agencies in the United States.

1.7.5 United States Committee on Joint Causes of Death

In compliance with the resolution of the Fifth International Conference, the American
Secretary of State in 1945 appointed the United States Committee on Joint Causes of
Death under the chairmanship of Lowell J. Reed, Professor of Biostatistics at Johns
Hopkins University. Members and consultants of this committee included
representatives of the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom and the Health
Section of the League of Nations. Recognizing a trend, the committee decided that it
would be advantageous to consider classifications from the point of view of morbidity
and mortality, since the problem of joint causes pertained to both types of statistics.

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The committee also took into account that part of the resolution on International Lists of
Diseases of the previous International Conference recommending that the ‘various
national lists in use should, as far as possible, be brought into line with the detailed
International List of Causes of Death’. It recognized that the classification of sickness
and injury is closely linked with the classification of causes of death. The view that such
lists are fundamentally different arises from the erroneous belief that the International
List is a classification of terminal causes, whereas it is in fact based upon the morbid
condition that initiated the train of events ultimately resulting in death. The committee
believed that, in order to utilize fully both morbidity and mortality statistics, not only
should the classification of diseases for both purposes be comparable, but if possible
there should be a single list.

Furthermore, an increasing number of statistical organisations were using medical

records involving both sickness and death. Even in organisations that compile only
morbidity statistics, fatal as well as non-fatal cases needed to be coded. A single list,
therefore, greatly facilitates their coding operations. It also provides a common base for
comparison of morbidity and mortality statistics.

A subcommittee was therefore appointed, which prepared a draft of a Proposed

Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death. A final draft was
adopted by the committee after it had been modified on the basis of trials undertaken
by various agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

1.7.6 Sixth Revision of the International Lists

The International Health Conference held in New York City in June and July 1946 (11)
entrusted the Interim Commission of the World Health Organisation with the
responsibility of:

reviewing the existing machinery and of undertaking such preparatory work as may be
necessary in connection with: (i) the next decennial revision of ‘The International Lists
of Causes of Death’ (including the lists adopted under the International Agreement of
1934, relating to Statistics of Causes of Death); and (ii) the establishment of
International Lists of Causes of Morbidity

To meet this responsibility, the Interim Commission appointed the Expert Committee
for the Preparation of the Sixth Decennial Revision of the International Lists of
Diseases and Causes of Death. This Committee, taking full account of prevailing
opinion concerning morbidity and mortality classification, reviewed and revised the
above mentioned proposed classification which had been prepared by the United
States Committee on Joint Causes of Death.

The resulting classification was circulated to national governments preparing morbidity

and mortality statistics for comments and suggestions under the title, International
Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death. The Expert Committee
considered the replies and prepared a revised version incorporating changes to
improve the utility and acceptability of the classification. The Committee also compiled
a list of diagnostic terms to appear under each title of the classification. Furthermore, a
subcommittee was appointed to prepare a comprehensive alphabetical index of
diagnostic statements classified to the appropriate category of the classification. The
Committee also considered the structure and uses of special lists of causes for
tabulation and publication of morbidity and mortality statistics and studied other
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problems related to the international comparability of mortality statistics, such as form

of medical certificate and rules for classification. The International Conference for the
Sixth Revision of the International Lists of Diseases and Causes of Death was
convened in Paris from 26 to 30 April 1948 by the Government of France under the
terms of the agreement signed at the close of the Fifth Revision Conference in 1938.
Its secretariat was entrusted jointly to the competent French authorities and to the
World Health Organisation, which had carried out the preparatory work under the terms
of the arrangement concluded by the governments represented at the International
Health Conference in 1946 (12).

The Conference adopted the classification prepared by the Expert Committee as the
Sixth Revision of the International Lists (13). It also considered other proposals of the
Expert Committee concerning the compilation, tabulation and publication of morbidity
and mortality statistics. The Conference approved the International Form of Medical
Certificate of Cause of Death, accepted the underlying cause of death as the main
cause to be tabulated, and endorsed the rules for selecting the underlying cause of
death as well as the special lists for tabulation of morbidity and mortality data. It further
recommended that the World Health Assembly should adopt regulations under Article
21(b) of the WHO Constitution to guide Member States in compiling morbidity and
mortality statistics in accordance with the International Statistical Classification. In
1948, the First World Health Assembly endorsed the report of the Sixth Revision
Conference and adopted World Health Organisation Regulations No. 1, prepared on
the basis of the recommendations of the Conference. The International Classification,
including the Tabular List of Inclusions defining the content of the categories, was
incorporated, together with the form of the medical certificate of cause of death, the
rules for classification and the special lists for tabulation, into the Manual of the
International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death (22).
The Manual consisted of two volumes, Volume 2 being an alphabetical index of
diagnostic terms coded to the appropriate categories. In the Sixth Revision, morbid
conditions resulting from injuries, poisonings and other external causes were classified
according to both the external circumstances giving rise to the injury and to the kind of
injury.

The adoption of this dual classification was regarded at the time as a bold step to deal
with the simultaneous interest in more than one aspect of injury. The Sixth Decennial
Revision Conference marked the beginning of a new era in international vital and
health statistics. Apart from approving a comprehensive list for both mortality and
morbidity and agreeing on international rules for selecting the underlying cause of
death, it recommended the adoption of a comprehensive programme of international
cooperation in the field of vital and health statistics. An important item in this
programme was the recommendation that governments establish national committees
on vital and health statistics to coordinate the statistical activities in the country, and to
serve as a link between the national statistical institutions and the World Health
Organisation. It was further envisaged that such national committees would, either
singly or in cooperation with other national committees, study statistical problems of
public health importance and make the results of their investigations available to the
WHO.

1.7.7 The Seventh and Eighth Revisions

The International Conference for the Seventh Revision of the International
Classification of Diseases was held in Paris under the auspices of the WHO in
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February 1955 (14). In accordance with a recommendation of the WHO Expert

Committee on Health Statistics, this revision was limited to essential changes and
amendments of errors and inconsistencies (15). The Eighth Revision Conference
convened by the WHO met in Geneva, from 6 to 12 July 1965 (16). This revision was
more radical than the Seventh but left unchanged the basic structure of the
Classification and the general philosophy of classifying diseases, whenever possible,
according to their aetiology rather than a particular manifestation. During the years that
the Seventh and Eighth Revisions of the ICD were in force, the use of the ICD for
indexing hospital medical records increased rapidly and some countries prepared
national adaptations which provided the additional detail needed for this application of
the ICD.

1.7.8 The Ninth Revision

The International Conference for the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of
Diseases, convened by the WHO, met in Geneva from 30 September to 6 October
1975 (17). In the discussions leading up to the conference, it had originally been
intended that there should be little change other than updating of the classification. This
was mainly because of the expense of adapting data processing systems each time the
classification was revised. There had been an enormous growth of interest in the ICD
and ways had to be found of responding to this, partly by modifying the classification
itself and partly by introducing special coding provisions.

A number of representations were made by specialist bodies which had become

interested in using the ICD for their own statistics. Some subject areas in the
classification were regarded as inappropriately arranged and there was considerable
pressure for more detail and for adaptation of the classification to make it more relevant
for the evaluation of medical care, by classifying conditions to the chapters concerned
with the part of the body affected rather than to those dealing with the underlying
generalised disease. At the other end of the scale, there were representations from
countries and areas where a detailed and sophisticated classification was irrelevant,
but which nevertheless needed a classification based on the ICD in order to assess
their progress in health care and in the control of disease. The final proposals
presented to and accepted by the Conference retained the basic structure of the ICD,
although with much additional detail at the level of the four-digit subcategories, and
some optional five-digit subdivisions. For the benefit of users not requiring such detail,
care was taken to ensure that the categories at the three-digit level were appropriate.

For the benefit of users wishing to produce statistics and indexes oriented towards
medical care, the Ninth Revision included an optional alternative method of classifying
diagnostic statements, including information about both an underlying general disease
and a manifestation in a particular organ or site. This system became known as the
dagger and asterisk system. The Twenty Ninth World Health Assembly, noting the
recommendations of the International Conference for the Ninth Revision of the
International Classification of Diseases, approved the publication, for trial purposes, of
supplementary classifications of Impairments and Handicaps and of Procedures in
Medicine as supplements to, but not as integral parts of, the International Classification
of Diseases.

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1.7.9 The Tenth Revision

Even before the Conference for the Ninth Revision, the WHO had been preparing for
the Tenth Revision. It recognised that the great expansion in the use of the ICD
necessitated a thorough rethinking of its structure and an effort to devise a stable and
flexible classification, which should not require fundamental revision for many years to
come. The WHO Collaborating Centres for Classification of Diseases (see
[Link]/classification) were consequently called upon to experiment with models
of alternative structures for ICD–10.

It had also become clear that the established ten-year interval between revisions was
too short. Work on the revision process had to start before the current version of the
ICD had been in use long enough to be thoroughly evaluated, mainly because the
necessity to consult so many countries and organisations made the process a very
lengthy one. The Director General of the WHO therefore wrote to the Member States
and obtained their agreement to postpone a 1985 Tenth Revision Conference until
1989, and to delay the introduction of the Tenth Revision which would have been due
in 1989. In addition to permitting experimentation with alternative models for the
structure of the ICD, this allowed time for the evaluation of ICD 9, for example through
meetings organised by some of the WHO Regional Offices and through a survey
organised at headquarters.

The International Conference for the Tenth Revision of the International Classification
of Diseases, attended by delegates from 43 Member States, was convened by the
World Health organisation in Geneva from 26 September to 2 October 1989. The
United Nations, the International Labour Organisation, and the WHO Regional Offices
sent representatives to participate in the Conference, as did the Council for
International organisations of Medical Sciences. Twelve other non-governmental
organisations concerned with cancer registration, the deaf, epidemiology, family
medicine, gynaecology and obstetrics, hypertension, health records, preventive and
social medicine, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and sexually transmitted diseases
were also invited.

Extensive preparatory activity had been devoted to a radical review of the suitability of
the structure of the ICD, essentially a statistical classification of diseases and other
health problems, to serve a wide variety of needs for mortality and health-care data.
Ways of stabilizing the coding system to minimize disruption at successive revisions
had been investigated, as had the possibility of providing a better balance between the
content of the different chapters of the ICD. Even with a new structure, it was plain that
one classification could not cope with the extremes of the requirements. The concept
had therefore been developed of a ‘family’ of classifications, which would include the
ICD for traditional mortality and morbidity statistics, while needs for more detailed, less
detailed or different classifications and associated matters would be dealt with by other
members of the family. The potential for different members of the ‘family’ in the medico-
social and multi-dimensional assessment in relation not only to health but also to
activities of daily living, as well as the social and physical environment, was
recognised. It was demonstrated that effective information could be obtained through
use of the ICD and the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and
Handicaps (ICIDH) (18), and through use of the codes from Chapter XXI of the Tenth
Revision.

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The main innovation in the Tenth Revision was the use of an alphanumeric coding
scheme of one letter followed by three numbers at the four-character level. This had
the effect of more than doubling the size of the coding frame in comparison with the
Ninth Revision and enabled the vast majority of chapters to be assigned a unique letter
or group of letters, each capable of providing 100 three-character categories. Of the 26
available letters, 25 had been used, the letter U being left vacant for future additions
and changes, and for possible interim classifications to solve difficulties arising at the
national and international level between revisions.

Another important innovation was the creation towards the end of certain chapters of
categories for postprocedural disorders. These identified important conditions that
constituted a medical care problem in their own right. Postprocedural conditions that
were not specific to a particular body system continued to be classified in the chapter
on ‘Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes’. The Revision
included definitions, standards, and reporting requirements related to maternal
mortality and to foetal, perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality. It was published in three
volumes: one containing the Tabular List, a second containing all related definitions,
standards, rules and instructions, and a third containing the Alphabetical Index.

The Tenth Revision Conference discussed the difficulties experienced during the
extended period of use of the Ninth Revision, related to the emergence of new
diseases and the lack of an updating mechanism to accommodate them. It recognized
that it would not be feasible to hold revision conferences more frequently than every 10
years. It also recognized that any changes introduced during the lifetime of the Tenth
Revision would need to be considered carefully in relation to their impact on analyses
and trends.

1.7.10 The WHO Family of International Classifications

Although the ICD is suitable for many different applications, it does not serve all the
needs of its various users. It does not provide sufficient detail for some specialties and
sometimes information on different attributes of health conditions may be needed. Also,
the ICD is not useful to describe functioning and disability as aspects of health and
does not include a full array of health interventions or reasons for encounter.
Foundations laid by the International Conference on ICD–10 in 1989 provided the basis
for the development of a ‘family’ of health classifications. This was given added
momentum during the 1990s by the development of the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (19), approved by the World Health Assembly
in 2001.

In 2001, the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) was created. At

the core of the Family are its reference classifications, currently the ICD and the ICF;
the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), now under development,
is the third reference classification. The WHO-FIC also includes derived classifications,
which provide additional detail to core classifications or are rearrangements or
aggregations of terms in core classifications; the WHO has licensed several countries
to develop national modifications of the ICD as derived classifications. As well, the
WHO-FIC includes related classifications to cover health functions which are not (or
are only partially) covered by other WHO-FIC members. The WHO-FIC is supported by
a network of Collaborating Centres, based on the former Collaborating Centres for the
ICD and the ICF, but continuously expanded by the addition of new centres.

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Table 1: Evolution of ICD

Iteration Year Document Note

Bertillon Classification of Causes of Drafted by International Statistical

0 1891
Death Institute

Bertillon/International List of First International Conference for

1 1900
Causes of Death Revision of List of Causes of Death

International List of Causes of 179 titles, call for revision every 10

2 1910
Death years

International List of Causes of

3 1920
Death

Drafted jointly by International

International List of Causes of Statistical Institute and Health
4 1929
Death organisation of the League of
Nations

International List of Causes of 200 titles, additions to infectious and

5 1938
Death parasitic

International Classification of Recognition of classification of

6 1948 Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of disease and injury, in addition to
Death causes of death

International Classification of
7 1955 Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of
Death

International Classification of
8 1965 Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of
Death

International Classification of Trial of supplement on Impairments

9 1975 Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of and Handicaps, and Procedures in
Death Medicine

International Statistical Introduction of alpha-numeric coding

10 1989 Classification of Diseases and scheme, postprocedural disorders;
Related Health Problems regular interim updates

International Statistical Postcoordination (cluster coding);

11 2018 Classification of Diseases and addition of Traditional Medicine,
Related Health Problems adverse events coding

1.7.11 Updating of ICD between revisions

As foreshadowed at the Tenth Revision conference, updating of the tenth revision of
ICD commenced in 2000. Updating proposals came from, and were carefully
considered by, the WHO and Collaborating Centres, including the impact on trends.

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The updating process has allowed an extended life for the Tenth Revision while
maintaining its clinical and scientific currency.

1.7.12 Preparations for the Eleventh Revision

By 2003, it was becoming clear to the WHO and the Collaborating Centres that a
further revision of the ICD could not be long delayed. The extent to which ICD updating
could encapsulate emerging developments was limited by the structure of ICD–10, and
some issues needed extended development and discussion with expert groups. A
special meeting of Collaborating Centres in Helsinki in 2004 discussed the need for a
revision and issues to be addressed as part of the revision process. The 2004 WHO-
FIC meeting subsequently adopted a revision process work-plan which was
progressively developed at ensuing meetings.

In 2007, the WHO formally launched the revision process. Oversight has been provided
through a broad-based Revision Steering Group. Technical work has been undertaken
by a series of Topic Advisory Groups, with cross-cutting groups examining mortality,
morbidity and quality and safety issues. For the first time, a chapter on description of
diseases and patterns of diseases from a Traditional medicine standpoint has been
included.

A Content Model, including a range of components for each ICD entity has been
developed, giving a rich Foundation for the ICD. Other classifications and terminologies
are linked or included where possible to ensure ICD is aligned with them, and items
used in other members of the WHO Family of Classifications have been aligned
wherever possible. The more traditional statistical classification for mortality and
morbidity is obtained from the Foundation Component of ICD–11 as a tabular list.
Extension codes are used to limit content volume but still allow detailed classification of
disease entities. Supplementary chapters and sections allow capturing on an optional
basis information about traditional medicine diagnoses and functioning. Based on the
experiences with ICD-9 and ICD-10 and updating mechanisnm was designed, that
allows improvements in user guidance and scientific updates without compromising the
statistical use of the classification.

1.7.13 References for history of ICD

1. Knibbs G.H. The International Classification of Disease and Causes of Death
and its revision. Medical journal of Australia, 1929, 1:2-12.
2. Moriyama IM, Loy RM, Robb-Smith AHT. History of the statistical classification
of diseases and causes of death. Rosenberg HM, Hoyert DL, eds. Hyattsville,
MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.
3. Greenwood M. Medical statistics from Graunt to Farr. Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press, 1948.
4. First annual report. London, Registrar General of England and Wales, 1839,
p. 99.
5. Bertillon J. Classification of the causes of death (abstract). In: Transactions of
the 15th International Congress on Hygiene Demography. Washington, 1912.
6. International list of causes of death. The Hague, International Statistical Institute,
1940.
7. Roesle E. Essai d’une statistique comparative de la morbidité devant servir à
établir les listes spéciales des causes de morbidité. Geneva, League of Nations
Health organisation, 1928 (document C.H. 730)

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8. Medical Research Council, Committee on Hospital Morbidity Statistics. A

provisional classification of diseases and injuries for use in compiling morbidity
statistics. London, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1944 (Special Report Series
No. 248).
9. US Public Health Service, Division of Public Health Methods. Manual for coding
causes of illness according to a diagnosis code for tabulating morbidity statistics.
Washington, Government Publishing Office, 1944 (Miscellaneous Publication
No. 32).
10. Sixteenth annual report. London, Registrar General of England and Wales,
1856, App. p.73.
11. Official Records of the World Health Organisation, 1948, 11, 23.
12. Official Records of the World Health Organisation, 1948, 2, 110.
13. Manual of the international statistical classification of diseases, injuries, and
causes of death. Sixth revision. Geneva, World Health Organisation, 1949.
14. Report of the International Conference for the Seventh Revision of the
International Lists of Diseases and Causes of Death. Geneva, World Health
Organisation, 1955 (unpublished document WHO/HA/7 Rev. Conf./17 Rev. 1.
15. Third Report of the Expert Committee on Health Statistics. Geneva, World
Health organisation, 1952 (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 53).
16. Report of the International Conference for the Eighth Revision of the
International Classification of Diseases. Geneva, World Health Organisation,
1965 (unpublished document WHO/ICD9/74.4.
17. Manual of the international statistical classification of diseases, injuries, and
causes of death, Volume 1. Geneva, World Health Organisation, 1977.
18. International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps. Geneva,
World Health Organisation, 1980.
19. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Geneva, World
Health organisation, 2001

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2 Part 2 - Using ICD-11

2.1 ICD maintenance and application
The ICD maintenance process allows the continuous adaptation of the ICD following
the evolution in the understanding of diseases, treatments, and prevention. A proposal
and review mechanism on an online platform makes the process transparent.
Workflows ensure that proposed changes are considered both from a medical and
scientific perspective and from their value and place in a particular use case. As a
result, the Foundation Component and the related tabular list(s) will be released in
updated versions.

2.1.1 ICD update process

Official releases are produced annually for international use in mortality and morbidity.
A standardised process has been established to ensure that the proposed updates are
collected, routed, reviewed, and duly considered before being implemented.

The updating is carried out at different levels with different frequencies. That will keep
stability for mortality and allow quicker updates for morbidity use.

 Updates that impact on international reporting (the four and five-digit structure of
the stem codes) will be published every five years.
 Updates at a more detailed level can be published at annual rates, and pending
the needs of clinical modifications also twice a year.
 Additions to the index can be done on an ongoing basis.
 Mortality and morbidity rules will be updated in a ten year cycle term cycle.

[Link] Proposals, review mechanisms, and workflow

Any individual can submit a proposal for an update to the ICD. Such updates can refer
to one or more entities of the ICD. All proposals for change must be submitted through
the online proposal mechanism to ensure a clear and transparent review of the
proposed content.
The proposals will be reviewed by scientific experts and classification experts. Decision
on taking into account a particular proposal will be based on the recommendations by
these experts. The proposals will move through a workflow in order to ensure there is a
need for a proposed update and to ensure consistency, structural integrity, and
scientific correctness of the classification. The workflow also warrants proper use of the
available resources. A workflow between a mortality and a morbidity reference group, a
medical scientific advisory committee (MSAC), and a classification and statistics
advisory committee (CSAC) will ensure that all aspects concerning a proposal are
taken into account. Reviews of the synthesis by classification experts ensure suitability
of the proposed changes to the diverse use cases of the ICD. The final process is
based on consensus among the members of the CSAC about a proposed change.
Membership of the CSAC and abovementioned reference groups consists of technical
experts that are nominated by Member States, or of Collaborating Centres for the
Family of Classifications that are responsible for this work nationally and that have
been nominated by WHO in agreemment with the relevant Member State. Membership
of the MSAC consists of technical experts that are nominated by WHO and that are

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members of NGO in official relationship or closely working with relevant programmes of

WHO. All rounds of editing will be handled through electronic platforms. Where
consensus cannot be achieved, the proposal can either be deferred to subsequent
cycles of editing pending arbitration by the WHO or be solved in a face to face meeting
of classification and content experts. In all other cases, a consensus recommendation
is given to the WHO for final decision.

All changes are published in the format of a list of changes.

For more detailed information on this topic, please see the Annex .

2.1.2 Applicability and Intellectual Property

The following paragraph provides an overview of the legal regulations in relation to
ICD. It is understood that this text does not prejudge in any way the wording of the
legal arrangements that are made between WHO and the relevant parties.

The ICD is intellectual property of WHO and changes to the ICD are subject to
contractual arrangements and approval through the updating mechanism.

The ICD provides a set of core tabular lists with categories that are mandatory for
international reporting.

ICD is distributed free of charge for personal, research, governmental, and other non-
commercial uses. Commercial users of the ICD are subject to royalties payable to the
WHO.

Users may access and use the ICD from the Internet for personal use. Users will
register and agree to the end user license agreement prior to accessing ICD files for
download.

Web services for ICD coding and browsing are available subject to signature of
relevant agreements.

The ICD may be translated into any language. For translation, interested parties (the
Translator) are requested to contact the WHO and comply with the relevant regulations
in a signed contract. The Translator will use the WHO translation platform, thus
allowing the WHO to verify correctness and completeness of the translation. The
translations of WHO official languages are a product of WHO and all rights are vested
with WHO. Translations of other languages are a product of the Translator. WHO is
automatically granted a perpetual and irrevocable, non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-
free, sub-licensable right to use, change, adapt, translate, publish, and disseminate
such work product in any manner and in any format in conjunction with the work of
WHO. Any adaptation, translation, publication (including in scientific journals), and
dissemination to be made by either party will be coordinated between them.

In some instances, users may feel the need to change parts of the ICD in order to
produce a special version of ICD. Production of special versions require a dedicated
contractual arrangement with WHO. Such versions will be produced from the WHO
production platform by WHO. All changes to ICD must be submitted on the WHO-ICD
maintenance platform (for details see 2.1.1 ICD update process). Requests for

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production of a special version will be subject to requests for funding of the related
work.

For international reporting, the most up to date version of the ICD is used, as stipulated
in the Nomenclature Regulations (1967).

No publicity may be displayed in the coding or browsing pages. In case of embedding

in a local website, or running a local version, a link to the ICD homepage at the WHO
must be included. No publicity may be displayed in the ICD print versions.

Ideally users will access the ICD online or through the web services. This will ensure
proper joint use of index, content model, and tabular lists and facilitate dissemination of
updates, where applicable. Any coding mechanism produced by 3rd parties must
provide the same coding results as the reference online coding tool.

2.1.3 National modifications for morbidity coding

The use of ICD in the specific context of the health care system of a country may
require the development of modifications to the ICD-11, for example, due to specific
settings or due to reimbursement system requirements. Such changes will be subject
to the same international process as are all other changes to ICD, then become part of
the Foundation Component and eventually of the MMS, prior to their implementation in
the requesting country.

A situation may arise, where a national government or an equally important national

body requests a modification to be implemented immediately. In such exceptional
circumstances, conflicts with the current Foundation Component must be avoided, and
the relevant changes will be subject to special mechanisms of the international
updating process. All countries planning to produce national modifications must make
the relevant contractual arrangements with WHO. This includes regulations on
distribution within the respective country and the resources necessary.

For developing a national modification of ICD-11 the following rules must be followed:

1. Modifications will be agreed by the ICD-11 maintenance bodies before they are
implemented nationally
2. Modifications are only added below the level of coding depth that is specified in
the Tabular List for Morbidity and Mortality Statistics, and should not conflict with
the foundation.
3. All national modifications will consider if suitable additional detail exists already
in the foundation.
4. If a change is performed to the international version the respective national
modification must be adapted as soon as possible.

Example

‘Diabetes Type 1’ in WHO Version of ICD-11 is 5A10. In a national modification there

might be the need for additional detail which can be added in the routine notation of
ICD-11 codes: ‘Diabetes Type 1, uncontrolled’ can be coded in that national
modification to 5A10; Diabetes Type 1, uncontrolled’ to 5A10.1 However, the
mechanisms for postcoordination via cluster coding would allow to code that detail
without additional pre-coordination.
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2.1.4 Interventions - ICHI

Intervention classifications are designed to include all kinds of health interventions for
treatment, diagnosis, or prevention. The International Classification of Health
Interventions (ICHI) includes interventions across all functional sectors of the health
system, covering acute care, primary care, rehabilitation, assistance with functioning,
prevention, public health, and ancillary services. Interventions provided by all types of
providers have been included. The importance of describing and classifying health
interventions has long been understood. An International Classification of Procedures
in Medicine (ICPM) was published by WHO in 1978 but was not maintained. ICHI is
much broader than the former ICPM because it includes the full range of health
interventions. Development of ICHI began in 2007, as a joint effort of the WHO- FIC
Network and WHO. Its structure has been completed, an alpha version published in
2012 and a beta version in 2015. Finalisation is planned for 2019.

Table 1: Definitions and terms used in creation of ICHI classifications.

Axes Inclusions Example

The Target axis contains the Anatomy, Human function,

entities on which the action is Person or client, Group or
carried out. population

The Action axis is defined as a

Investigation, Treating,
deed which is done by an actor to a
Managing, Informing,
target during a health care
Assisting, Preventing
intervention.

The Means axis contains the

Approach: the process by
entities describing the processes
which the target of the action open, endoscopic
and methods by which the action is
is accessed
carried out.

Technique used as part of the radiation, magnetic

action resonance

law enforcement,
Method describing how the
method of
action is undertaken
transport.
Other attributes of interventions are included as ‘Means’ in the ICHI Content Model.
The content of the axes has been restricted to attributes that are common to many
interventions. In particular:

 Devices have not been included as an axis because most interventions do not
involve a device and devices change rapidly
 Drugs or other substances administered through an intervention are classified
elsewhere (ICD, The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification with
Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD), INN).

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The coding system comprises a 7-character category structure for the three axes:

 Three letters for the Target

 Two letters for the Action
 Two letters for the Means

ICHI is a flat file comprising valid 7 letter combinations of the three axes. For each
intervention included in ICHI, the appropriate 7 letter combination is identified. Not
every possible combination of the three axes represents a valid ICHI domain.

2.1.5 Functioning in ICD and joint use with ICF

The ICD–11 has been created both to share concepts and be used jointly with the ICF.
This partnership may assist with the following tasks:

 evaluation for general medical practice (e.g. fitness for work)

 evaluation for social benefits (e.g. disability, pension)
 payment or reimbursement purposes
 needs assessment (e.g. for rehabilitation, occupational assistance, long term
care)
 outcome evaluation of interventions

Signs and symptoms in the ICD are aligned with body functions in the ICF, and ‘factors
influencing health status’ in the ICD with contextual factors in the ICF. The items of
Section V of ICD are a subset of the entities contained in ICF.

The functioning section that is embedded in ICD serves to generate a summary

functioning score based on assessment of the individual. The set of functioning items in
ICD-11 allows the WHO Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS), and the Model
Disability Survey (MDS, module 4000, Functioning) to be used to generate the
summary score. The set can also be used for assessment. Where more detail for
assessment is required, the full ICF should be used. The functioning of the individual
items is assessed using the combined questionnaire in the Annex
(WHODAS 36 + MDS). The set is complemented by elements of the generic core set.
The severity is reported using a negative scale qualifier identical to the one used in
ICF:

Code Descriptor Estimated broad range

x.0 NO problem 0-4 %

x.1 MILD problem 5-24%

x.2 MODERATE problem 25-49

x.3 SEVERE problem 50-95%

x.4 COMPLETE problem 95-100%

x.8 not specified

x.9 not applicable

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2.1.6 Structure and taxonomy of the ICD Classification

System
The authoring of ICD follows a set of rules that ensure the functional and structural
integrity of the classification. The evolution of ICD carefully balances the need for
categories that match current knowledge while allowing statistical comparability over
space and time.

The chapter structure of ICD reflects major aspects of diseases. Chapters are not
intended to delimit areas of medical expertise or domains of specialties. The ICD has
categories for diseases, disorders, syndromes, signs, symptoms, findings, injuries,
external causes of morbidity and mortality, factors influencing health status, reasons for
encounter of the health system, and traditional medicine. ICD-11 complements these
categories with additional detail such as anatomy, substances, infectious agents, or
place of injury. ICD-11 also comes with a set of rules and explanations for its use,
required reporting formats, and necessary metadata.

The most widespread use of ICD over time and geographically, is for cause of death
statistics. The second important use is classification of clinical documentation to
provide standardised, language independent information for morbidity use, such as
resource allocation, casemix, patient safety and quality of care as well as primary care
and research. ICD and its descriptions are also used as a framework in legislation.

A statistical classification of diseases must be confined to a limited number of mutually

exclusive categories able to encompass the complete range of diseases or morbid
conditions. The categories are chosen to facilitate the statistical study of disease
phenomena. A specific disease entity that is of particular public health importance, or
that occurs frequently, should have its own category. Otherwise, categories are
assigned to groups of separate but related conditions. Every morbid condition must
have a well-defined place in the list of categories. Consequently, throughout the
classification, there will be residual categories for other and miscellaneous conditions
that cannot be allocated to the more specific categories. The following measures are
used to determine whether an entity qualifies to become a unique category:

1. Epidemiological evidence: frequency analyses of coded mortality and morbidity

data
2. Clinical evidence: disease evidence provided by the medical specialties
3. Granularity: minimum detail reported and useful in mortality (mortality data) or
primary care
4. Continuity: preserve the level of detail pre-existing in ICD
5. Parsimony: the need to limit the number of categories for international
mandatory reporting.

The concepts of classification, nomenclature and terminology are closely related. It is

the element of grouping that distinguishes a statistical classification from a
nomenclature or terminology, which must have separate titles for each known morbid
condition. However, nomenclatures or terminologies are also often arranged
systematically. A statistical classification can make allowances for different levels of
detail if it has a hierarchical structure and subdivisions.

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A statistical classification of diseases should retain the ability to identify specific

disease entities while allowing statistical presentation of data of broader groups to
enable the generation of useful and understandable information. The same general
principles apply to the classification of other health problems, and reasons for contact
with health-care services, which are also incorporated in the ICD. The ICD has
developed as a practical, rather than a purely theoretical classification, in which there
are a number of compromises between classification based on aetiology, anatomical
site, circumstances of onset, or other criteria.

ICD-11 draws extensively on the method of combining several codes to describe a

morbid entity to the desired level of detail. Its electronic architecture allows assignment
of unique identifiers to any condition listed - independently whether the condition is
grouped in a statistical class or whether it represents a class of its own. The two
approaches together allow the option of keeping coding simple where required
diagnostic detail is limited; and the alternative to add detail where diagnostic reporting
requires a high level of sophistication.

2.1.7 Chapter structure

The ICD is a variable-axis classification. The structure has developed out of that
proposed by William Farr in the early days of international discussions on classification
structure: - epidemic diseases - constitutional or general diseases - local diseases
arranged by site - developmental diseases – injuries. These groups remain in the
chapters of ICD–11. The structure has stood the test of time and, though in some ways
arbitrary, is still regarded as more useful for general epidemiological purposes than any
of the alternatives tested. The conservation of the structure acknowledges the need for
stability while allowing incorporation of additional sections. The special groups bring
together conditions that would be inconveniently arranged for epidemiological study
were they to be scattered, for instance, in a classification arranged primarily by
anatomical site. These conditions formulate the ‘special groups’ chapters:

Chapter Title

1 Certain infectious or parasitic diseases

2 Neoplasms

3 Diseases of the blood or blood-forming organs

4 Diseases of the immune system

18 Pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium

19 Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period

20 Developmental anomalies

22 Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external cause

The distinction between the ‘special groups’ chapters and the ‘body systems’ chapters
has practical implications for understanding the structure of the classification, for
coding to it, and for interpreting statistics based on it. It has to be remembered that, in
general, conditions are primarily classified to one of the ‘special groups’ chapters.

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Where there is any doubt as to where a condition should be positioned, the ‘special
groups’ chapters should take priority. This principle is enforced in the ‘excludes’ notes
at the beginning of each chapter in the ICD. For example, cervical dysplasia grade 1 is
coded to the chapter 2 ‘Neoplasms’ because distinction between dysplasia and
neoplasia and clinical management are subject to a set of recommended criteria that
may change over time.

2.1.8 Guiding principles

Allocation of entities in the classification follows a set of rules that serve to maintain the
structural and functional integrity of the classification. The core set of rules listed here
is complemented by additional rules that address special cases or serve to ensure
consistent user guidance. They are listed in order of priority.

1. No changes to the classification, including movement of categories or groups

between chapters, without rationale and documented change in aetiology or
prevention method. (e.g. Chapter 4 - ‘Diseases of the immune system’ was
added as a new chapter as there was sufficient scientific evidence to support
this move). Alternatively, it was suggested to move ‘wounds of skin’ to ‘Diseases
of the skin’. The wound of the skin, being an injury, remains grouped with
injuries because prevention will focus on the cause of the wound.
2. Conditions are classified predominantly by their aetiology.
o Local manifestations of important ‘aetiologies’ are located in the aetiology
chapter (e.g. Viral hepatitis is in ‘Certain infectious or parasitic disease’).
o Where one condition can be due to multiple different aetiologies, and it is
more relevant to retain the affected body system, it is usually classified
with the body system (e.g. some gastric ulcers are caused by bacteria,
but they remain in the ‘Digestive system’ chapter).
o Where the aetiology of the condition is unknown, it is allocated to the
most relevant organ system (e.g. Costen syndrome is in the ‘Digestive
system’ chapter).
o Systemic ‘aetiologies’ are primarily in their relevant aetiology chapter (e.g.
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy is in “Diseases of the immune
system”).
3. Conditions that could arguably be in two or more places of the classification
remain in their legacy location.
o For example, injuries of the eye are equally important for the eye and
their prevention. Despite the suggestion of including them in the eye
chapter, they remained where they were, in the injury chapter.
o Where aetiology and body system are equally important, the legacy
location remains unchanged (e.g. ocular motor nerve palsies).
4. Keeping a group of subtypes together in one location may override anatomical
or aetiological considerations (e.g. human prion diseases - some have a genetic
component, others a transmissible component).

2.1.9 Guiding principles for classification of special concepts

1. Clinical findings are located in the chapter ‘Symptoms, signs or clinical findings,
not elsewhere classified’. (e.g. ‘Abnormal serum enzyme levels’ or ‘Results of
function studies of the circulatory system’)

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2. Manifestations of diseases and a relevant point for a health intervention are

‘clinical manifestations’ and are located in the body system chapter where they
manifest. The underlying condition has to be coded as well. (e.g. myocarditis)
3. Syndromes, where the aetiology is unknown, are allocated with the most
relevant body system. (e.g. Costen syndrome is in the ‘Digestive’ chapter)
4. The number of categories with ‘due to’ in the title are restricted to certain
exceptions. (e.g. acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus)
5. Very specific, chronic, postprocedural conditions are grouped at the end of the
body system chapter where they manifest. (e.g. lymphoedema due to surgery or
radiotherapy). Residual categories do not exist for these groups.
6. Acute postprocedural complications are identified by combinations of codes from
body system or injury chapters, and external causes chapter (e.g. an
unintentional puncture of an organ during an intervention is classified with a
code for the injured organ (harm), a code describing what surgery caused the
injury (cause), and a code identifying the unintentional puncture as the
mode/mechanism of injury.).
7. Categories with mention of ‘multiple’ are restricted to exceptions and require
coding of the different multiple conditions individually (e.g. multiple injuries are to
be coded individually when possible).
8. Categories with mention of ‘sequelae’ are restricted to exceptions. The specific
condition resulting as a sequela needs to be coded along with the underlying
cause. In some instances, they will continue to exist with the label ‘late effects
of…’ (e.g. late effects of cerebrovascular disease or late syphilis). ‘Sequelae’
include residual effects of diseases or disorders, injuries or poisonings specified
as such, or as late effect of, arrested, cured, healed, inactive, old or quiescent
condition unless there is evidence of active disease.
9. Categories with mention of ‘history of’ are limited to exceptions (e.g. personal
history of malignant neoplasms lists only the more frequent anatomical sites).
10. High level groupings need to be meaningful.
11. Residual categories exist only where they are meaningful. (e.g. where conditions
are either congenital or acquired, there is no ‘other’ residual, but there will be an
‘unspecified’ option)

2.1.10 Improving user guidance

The following rules serve to provide user guidance. Users may expect to find conditions
in certain places when browsing the tree structure. User groups may need to group
data or create subsets for other reasons. The multiple parenting in the Foundation
Component serves to address that issue.

1. Where a condition could be in two or more places, identify these other places
and add them as secondary parents, e.g. malignant neoplasm of the colon is
coded to the neoplasm chapter, but is also shown in the chapter of diseases of
the digestive system. In case a set of conditions needs to be shown in more
than one place and there is no grouping matching that set, create a window (no
primary children, no terms, no residual categories) in the appropriate place.
2. Where a condition could be confused with another condition bearing a similar
name, add an exclusion note. (e.g. ‘Influenza due to seasonal influenza virus’
has a note ’Exclusion: Haemophilus influenzae [H. influenzae] meningitis’).
3. Where alternative ways of tabulating data are required, create a special
linearization list as a second parent (e.g. infectious diseases by agent). The

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coding scheme of the individual entries will remain the one used for the full
international classification.
4. Where diseases of certain body systems are spread across different chapters,
allow for a specialty linearization of the pertinent diseases. The coding scheme
of the individual entries will remain the one used for the full international
classification. Currently there are specialty linearizations for primary care,
dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, and in special cases such as the
International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) and the
International Classification of External Causes of Injury (ICECI).

2.1.11 General features of ICD-11

The main structural innovation of ICD–11 is that it is built on a Foundation Component
from which the tabular list (the statistical classification for morbidity and mortality) can
be derived.

Table 1: ICD-11 Terminology

ICD-11 Term Explanation

Underlying data base content that holds all necessary information

to generate print versions of the tabular list and the alphabetical
Foundation
index, as well as additional information that is needed to generate
component
specialty linearizations of ICD-11 and country specific
modifications.

Stem codes are codes that can be used alone. They are found in
the tabular list of ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Stem
codes may be entities or groupings of high relevance, or clinical
Stem code conditions that should always be described as one single category.
The design of stem codes makes sure that in use cases that require
only one code per case, a meaningful minimum of information is
collected.

Extension codes are designed to standardise the way additional

information is added to a stem code when users and settings are
Extension code interested in reporting more detail than is included in a stem code.
Extension codes can never be used without a stem code and can
never appear in the first position in a cluster.

Stem codes may contain all pertinent information about a clinical

Precoordination concept in a pre-combined fashion. This is referred to as
‘precoordination’.

Example: BD50.40 Abdominal aortic aneurysm with perforation

Example: CA40.04 Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Postcoordination refers to linking (through cluster coding) multiple

Postcoordination codes (i.e. stem codes and/or extension codes) together, to fully
describe a documented clinical concept.

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ICD-11 Term Explanation

Cluster coding refers to a convention used (either forward slash (/)

or ampersand (&)) to show more than one code used together
Cluster coding
(e.g. stem code/stem code(s)&extension code(s)) to describe a
documented clinical concept.

Example: Diagnosis: Duodenal ulcer with acute

haemorrhage, Cluster: DA63.Z/ME24.90; Condition - DA63
Duodenal ulcer, unspecified; Has manifestation (use additional
code, if desired) - ME24.90 Acute gastrointestinal bleeding, not
elsewhere classified

The hierarchy of ICD-11 is defined the same as it was in previous

versions of ICD. The possibility to connect specific diseases and
Primary and
concepts within the classification to another parent code was
secondary parents
introduced to enable specific extracts of the Tabular list for medical
specialties or for specific use cases.

Example: A code for a malignant neoplasm of the skin is in the

chapter for malignant neoplasms. The primary parent for this code
is a code or a block from this chapter. However, a medical doctor
treating only skin diseases might want to see only codes from the
classification that are relevant for his or her specific clinical
purpose. Therefore, a secondary parent was defined in the skin
chapter which will only show the code in this chapter if the specific
extract of code for his or her use case is selected.

2.1.12 Foundation Component and Tabular Lists of ICD–11

The Foundation Component is a multidimensional collection of all ICD entities. Entities
can be diseases, disorders, injuries, external causes, signs and symptoms. Some
entities may be very broad, for example ‘injury of the arm’, while others are more
detailed, for example ‘laceration of the skin of the thumb’. The Foundation Component
also has the necessary information to use the entities to build a tabular list. The
Foundation Component includes information on where and how a certain entity is
represented in a tabular list, whether it becomes a grouping, a category with a stem
code, or whether it is mentioned as an inclusion term in a particular category.

Several different tabular lists can be built from the Foundation Component. Drawing on
the same Foundation Component, a set of tabular lists that builds on the same
hierarchical tree can be created – a set of so called congruent tabular lists. Data that is
collected with any tabular list of such a congruent set can always be aggregated to the
smallest common denominator (provided the same rules for reporting, coding and
selection have been applied). The Foundation Component includes instructions on how
to combine certain codes in a tabular list to achieve more detail in coding. These rules
help coders and computer systems to visualize the permitted code combinations when
they are using a tabular list.

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Core tabular lists for international use:

 Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (MMS)

 Primary care low resources settings (PCL)
 Verbal Autopsy (VA)
 Startup Mortality List (SMoL)

The full name of such a tabular list will always include ‘ICD–11’, e.g. ICD–11 MMS.

In a tabular list, entities of the Foundation Component become categories. The

categories are mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive and linked to a mono
hierarchical tree (they have only one parent). The information related to an entity that
has become a category and has multiple parents is still available from the foundation.
This information can be used to visualize that category in more than one place in the
tabular list, e.g. showing them in black in its place for reference tabulation and in grey
in any other place for browsing or alternative tabulations. ICD–11 has multiple
congruent tabular lists with varying levels of detail.

2.1.13 Precoordination and Postcoordination, Cluster coding

A health condition may be described to any level of detail, by applying more than one
code, or by ‘postcoordinating’ (i.e. combining):

 two or more stem codes, (i.e. code1/code2)

 stem codes with one or more extension codes. (i.e. stem code&extension
code1&extension code2)

In this manner, the classification can address many clinical concepts with a limited
range of categories.

Example

Precoordination of concepts in a single code Condition: 2C25.2 Squamous cell

carcinoma of bronchus or lung In precoordination, both site and pathology are
combined in a single precoordinated stem code.

Example

Postcoordination of concepts combined through cluster coding In postcoordination, the

condition urinary tract infection due to Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing
Escherichia coli’ is expressed through a combination of two linked or clustered stem
codes. Condition: GC08.0 Urinary tract infection, site not specified, due to Escherichia
coli Associated with (use additional code, if desired): MG50.27 Extended-spectrum
beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli Cluster code: GC08.0/MG50.27

Stem codes contain all pertinent information in a pre-combined fashion. This is referred
to as ‘precoordination’. When additional detail that pertains to a condition is described
by combining multiple codes, this is referred to as ‘postcoordination’. The mechanism
of showing which codes are postcoordinated is called cluster coding in ICD-11.

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[Link] Multiple Parenting

An entity may be correctly classified in two different places, e.g. by site or by aetiology.
For a disease like oesophageal cancer this would mean that it could be classified to
cancers (malignant neoplasms) or to conditions of the digestive system. In the same
way, cerebral ischaemic conditions could be classified to the vascular system – where
the problem arises - or to the nervous system – where the ischaemia impacts and
manifests with symptoms.

Indications of multiple parenting:

 ‘Excludes’ or ‘Code elsewhere’ note

 Display of multiple parents in Foundation Component view
 Display of multiple parents in tabular list. Example for oesophageal cancer:
primary parent malignant neoplasm will appear in black and the digestive
system for the oesophageal cancer in grey

In the Foundation Component, ‘excludes’ notes for these examples will mention
possible parents (multiple parents). However, for the tabulation of statistical outputs
from any tabular list, there can be only one parent for primary tabulation. When there
are such multiple parents, in the Foundation Component view both parents will be
displayed the same way. However, in a tabular list, the primary parent place will show
the entity and its parents in black, and possibly the secondary parent place in grey.

Every time an entity is parented elsewhere, it will continue to show the code from the
primary parent. The primary parent is sometimes referred to as the ‘Tabular list parent’.

Postcoordination axis Description

It is mandatory to code the underlying

‘Has causing condition’ - this field is condition for primary tabulation when it is
indicating the causing condition that known. ‘Causing condition’ is added to
always should be coded. Causing categories that are caused by an underlying
condition can be compared to the disease. For example, retinopathy has a
‘dagger’ code in ICD-10. This option is ‘causing condition’ of diabetes. Causing
found at entities that are typically condition should be considered required in
caused by a range of different almost all situations, and should be used
conditions. exclusively for conditions that are
manifestations.

It is optional to code manifestations of a

disease. For example, diabetes ‘Has
‘Has manifestation’ - prompts to code
manifestations’ such as retinopathy. This
any manifestations. Manifestation can
coding should be considered ‘Allowed’ in
be compared to ‘asterisk’ codes in ICD-
almost all situations, and used exclusively for
10. This option is found at entities that
conditions that have manifestations. The listed
can develop manifestations.
manifestations are usually a sample of the
ones frequently resulting in the condition.

‘Associated with’ - when conditions are This field is used when multiple codes are
captured together for a full picture but required to fully describe a condition (e.g 3-

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Postcoordination axis Description

not necessarily a cause and effect part model for Quality and Safety). For
scenario. example, ‘Associated with’ is used to link the
codes for antimicrobial resistance to the codes
for the infection. This coding can be either
“Allowed’ or ‘Required’ depending on the
situation.
Rules for postcoordinaton:

1. Antimicrobial resistance is ‘allowed’ with codes for infection. This information is

not mandatory as it is not available everywhere.
2. The external cause code to identify a specific drug is ‘allowed’ with entities
beginning with or including the phrase ‘Drug -induced’.

2.1.14 The Content Model

The Content Model is a structured framework that defines each entity found in the ICD
in a standard way. The purpose of the Content Model is to present the background
knowledge that provides the basis for the description of each ICD entity in a systematic
way to allow for computerization. ICD–11 holds all its content in the Foundation
Component. Here, every entity is specified by a description, machine readable
properties that have values, and one or more parent-child relationship(s). Additional
links provide information for postcoordination. All this multi-dimensional information is
then projected on one line with mutually exclusive categories, as the tabular lists. The
Foundation Component includes information on where and how a certain entity is
represented in a tabular list. An entity might become a grouping, a category, or just a
term that is, for example, listed in the index.

A disease is usually defined using a set of relevant aspects drawn from the pattern
below. A disease is a set of dysfunctions in any body system defined by:

Property Description

Symptomatology or Known pattern of signs, symptoms, and related

manifestations findings

Aetiology An underlying explanatory mechanism

Course and outcome A distinct pattern of development over time

Treatment response A known pattern of response to interventions

Linkage to genetic factors E.g., genotypes, patterns of gene expression, etc.

Linkage to environmental factors

Each ICD entity can be seen from different dimensions. The Content Model represents
each one of these dimensions as a ‘property’. For example, there are currently 12
defined main properties in the content model to describe an entity in the ICD.

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The key components of the descriptions of disease are included as different properties
within the Content Model. The 12 main properties of the Content Model are:

1. ICD Entity Title

2. Classification Properties
3. Textual Descriptions
4. Terms
5. Body System/Body Part
6. Temporal Properties
7. Severity of Subtypes Properties
8. Manifestation Properties (Signs, Symptoms or Investigation Findings)
9. Causal Properties
10. Specific Condition Properties
11. Treatment Properties
12. Diagnostic Criteria
For each ICD entity, various properties can be given if necessary to reach the correct
coding result. At the time of initial release of ICD-11, only absolutely necessary
properties will be defined in order to avoid the necessity of frequent updates and to
reduce the resources needed by implementing countries to update the classification
within a short timeframe. Additions of property values on the international level can be
managed through the regular update cycle whenever coding problems indicate the
necessity to do so. For example:

ICD entity: Invasive ductal carcinoma of breast

Properties Value

Anatomy Breast

Morphology Invasive ductal carcinoma

The full range of different values for a given property is predefined using standard
terminologies and ontologies. This range of values is called a ‘Value set’.

[Link] Descriptions
Descriptions of ICD–11 entities inform analysts and translators about the meaning of
an entity and its descriptive characteristics. There are two different types of
descriptions: a short description (maximum of 100 words) that is available in both the
content model and the tabular list, and a detailed description with comprehensive detail
at the level required for each entity. The detailed description is labelled ‘additional
information’ and appears only in online electronic versions. Coders are cautioned not to
use the descriptions for coding. Coders must assign codes based on the diagnosis(es)
documented by the clinician. The descriptor information that is included for the
individual entities of the ICD-11 provides users of the ICD clear insight regarding the
intended meaning and scope of rubrics or terms in the tabular list and the Foundation
Component. The descriptors guide translators, coders, and users of coded data. The
goal is to enhance the comparability, consistency, and interpretation of coded
information for everyone, everywhere. There are four levels of descriptor information in
the ICD–11 content model:

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2.1.15 Language independent ICD entities

ICD-11 entities are language independent. All entities have a unique identifier or
uniform resource identifier (URI), and have a specific place in a hierarchy of groups,
categories and narrower terms. The maintenance of the ICD-11 on an international
level is handled in the English language but the content model of the ICD–11 is
language independent and allows binding of any desired language to the elements of
its foundation. In this way, an international translation base facilitates translations or
multilingual browsing. The URI remains valid independently whether an ICD entity is
still valid or has been retired. The hierarchical structure of groups, categories,
subcategories, and inclusions (parents, children and narrower terms) serves also as a
language independent backbone for translations of ICD. This structure is essential
when building an index in a local language. It helps (in conjunction with the ICD
translation platform) to identify the things that need to be translated in order to be able
to address ICD categories with terms reported in the local language. [Link] Perinatal
deaths

2.1.16 Organisation of a congruent system

Many countries use a single coding system (tabular list) for all use cases. Congruent,
telescopically expandable and collapsible, purpose-independent subsets for morbidity
coding in different settings (comparable to Verbal Autopsy, or initial implementation
lists for mortality) allow gathering of information at different levels of detail and still
allow for comparison of the collected information at the level of the common
description.

2.2 ICD–11 conventions

ICD–11 has standard ways of presenting its content. Conventions describe textual
content and also apply to the coding structure.

2.2.1 Code structure

The codes of ICD–11 are alphanumeric and cover the range from 1A00.00 to [Link].
Codes starting with ‘X’ indicate an extension code (see [Link] Extension codes). The
inclusion of a forced number at the 3rd character position prevents spelling
‘undesirable words’. The letters ‘O’ and ‘I’ are omitted to prevent confusion with the
numbers ‘0’ and ‘1’. Technically, the coding scheme would be described as below:

[Link]

 E corresponds to a ‘base 34 number’ (0-9 and A-Z; excluding O, I);

 D corresponds to ‘base 24 number’ (A-Z; excluding O, I); and
 1 corresponds to the ‘base 10 integers’ (0-9)
 The first E starts with ‘1’ and is allocated for the chapter. (i.e. 1 is for the first
chapter, 2: chapter 2, … A chapter 10, etc.)

The terminal letter Y is reserved for the residual category ‘other specified’ and the
terminal letter ‘Z’ is reserved for the residual category ‘unspecified’. For the chapters
that have more than 240 blocks, ‘F’ (‘other specified’) and ‘G’ (‘unspecified’) are also
used to indicate residual categories (due to problems with the coding space).

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Chapters are indicated by the first character. For example, 1A00 is a code in chapter 1,
and BA00 is a code in chapter 11.

Blocks are not coded within this code structure – each has its own. However,
hierarchical relations are retained in the 4-digit codes. There is unused coding space
allocated in all blocks to allow for later updates and to keep the codes stable.

2.2.2 Inclusions
Within the coded categories there are typically other optional diagnostic terms. These
are known as ‘inclusion terms’ and are given, in addition to the title, as examples of the
diagnostic statements to be classified to that category. They may refer to different
conditions or be synonyms. They are not a sub-classification of the category.

Inclusion terms are listed primarily as a guide to the content of the category, in addition
to the descriptions. Many of the items listed relate to important or common terms
belonging to the category. Others are borderline conditions or sites listed to distinguish
the boundary between one subcategory and another. The lists of inclusion terms are by
no means exhaustive.

Alternative names of diagnostic entities (synonyms) are included and shown in the
electronic coding tool and the Alphabetic Index.

It is sometimes necessary to read inclusion terms in conjunction with titles. This usually
occurs when the inclusion terms describe lists of sites or pharmaceutical products,
where appropriate words from the title (e.g. ‘malignant neoplasm of …’, ‘injury to …’,
‘toxic effects of …’) need to be understood. General diagnostic descriptions common to
a range of categories, or to all the subcategories in a four-character category, are to be
found in the notes heading ‘Inclusions’, immediately following a chapter, group, or
category title.

2.2.3 Exclusions
Certain categories contain lists of conditions preceded by the word ‘Exclusions’. These
are terms which are classified elsewhere. An example of this is 5A60 Hyperfunction of
pituitary gland which excludes Cushing syndrome.

Exclusions serve as a cross reference in ICD and help to delimitate the boundaries of a
category.

General exclusions for a range of categories or for all subcategories are found in the
notes heading ‘Excludes’, immediately following a chapter, group or category title.

Multiple parenting in ICD-11 shows categories in the context of siblings that are placed
elsewhere in the classification. This is also an indication of an exclusion and means
‘some sibling is coded elsewhere’. In the print and the coder version this information is
displayed as an exclusion as well.

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2.3 ‘Code also’ and ‘Use additional code, if

desired’ instructions
‘Code also’ instructions inform the user about mandatory additional aetiological
information which is mandatory to be coded in a cluster with certain categories
because that additional information is relevant for primary tabulation. The ‘code also’
statement marks the categories that must be used in conjunction with the indicated
second code(s). However, in some instances there may be a reason for treatment in
their own right, where aetiology is unknown, and the code is reported alone.

For example, the category Diabetic cataract indicates ‘code also’ type of diabetes. This
means that in conjunction with the code for ‘diabetic cataract’, you always also code
the type of diabetes and report both stem codes in a cluster.

‘Use additional code, if desired’ - instructions inform the user about optional additional
detail that can be coded.

2.3.1 ‘NEC’ and ‘NOS’

[Link] ‘NEC’
The words ‘not elsewhere classified’, when used in a category title, serve as a warning
that certain specified variants of the listed conditions may appear in other parts of the
classification. For example, NF09 Adverse effects, not elsewhere classified.

[Link] ‘NOS’
The letters NOS are an abbreviation for ‘not otherwise specified’, implying that the
documentation that is used for classifying does not provide more detail beyond the
term (implying ‘unspecified’, ‘incompletely specified’ or ‘unqualified’). Sometimes an
unqualified term is nevertheless classified to a rubric for a more specific type of the
condition. This is because, in medical terminology, the most common form of a
condition is often known by the name of the condition itself and only the less common
types are qualified. For example, ‘pharyngitis’ is commonly used to mean ‘acute
pharyngitis’. These inbuilt assumptions have to be taken into account in order to avoid
incorrect classification.

Careful inspection of inclusion terms will reveal where an assumption of cause has to
be accounted for; coders should be careful not to code a term as unqualified unless it is
quite clear that no information is available that would permit a more specific
assignment elsewhere. Similarly, in interpreting statistics based on the ICD, some
conditions assigned to an apparently specified category will not have been so specified
on the record that was coded. When comparing trends over time and interpreting
statistics, it is important to be aware that assumptions may change from one revision of
the ICD to another. For example, before the Eighth Revision, an unqualified aortic
aneurysm was assumed to be due to syphilis (this is no longer the case since ICD–10).
In ICD-11 in most instances the ‘NOS’ point to unspecified categories, so that the later
data analysis can take care of assumptions or not regarding the linguistic meaning.

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2.3.2 ‘Certain’
The term ‘certain’ informs that some entities that could be grouped here are grouped
somewhere else outside the current chapter or block. For example, 8B22 Certain
specified cerebrovascular diseases.

2.3.3 Residual categories – ‘Other’ and ‘Unspecified’

ICD-11 coding should always be completed to include the highest level of detail
possible with the use of one code or multiple codes as described above. There are,
however, circumstances when that is not possible and for that reason the ICD-11
includes categories titled ‘other’ and ‘unspecified’. In some instances, necessary
information to select a specific category may not be available in the source
documentation. When this is the case, the residual category ‘unspecified’ is selected.
Conversely, there are instances where the information in the source documentation is
very specific, but the tabular list does not include a specific category. In this case,
users identify the closest category match, and code to the residual category titled
‘other’.

Additional terms permitted in ICD coding:

 Certain
 Other
 Unspecified
 And
 Or
 Due to
 With
 Caused by
 Attributed to
 Secondary to
 Associated with

2.3.4 Use of ‘And’ and ‘Or’

The words ‘and’ and ‘or’ in ICD–11 are used in their meaning in formal logic. A term
that includes a statement of the kind ‘A and B’ means that both, A and B, have to be
present in order to use that category. A term that includes a statement of the kind ‘A or
B’ means that either A or B, or both, have to be present in order to use the category.
Because A or B can mean either A or B or both, ‘or’ now means ‘and/or’. (The term
‘and’ meaning ‘and/or’ found in ICD–10 has not been carried over into ICD–11.)

2.3.5 ‘Due to’ and ‘Associated with’

‘Due to’ is the preferred term for categories where two conditions are mentioned and a
causal sequence exists. Other terms, such as ‘caused by’ or ‘attributed to’ are
allowable synonyms. The phrase ‘secondary to’ is equivalent and may also be included
as a synonym. ‘Associated with’ is the preferred term for categories where two
conditions are mentioned and there is no causal sequence implied.

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2.3.6 Spelling, parentheses, grammar and other conventions

Spelling and grammar of ICD-11 follow the British rules with exceptions and
amendments conforming to WHO spelling rules. The detailed conventions are listed
below. The alphabetic index uses the following conventions:

 Terms are listed in their singular form. For example, ‘Superficial injury of scalp’
instead of ‘Superficial injuries of scalp’
 No use of apostrophes with eponyms. For example: ‘Hodgkin lymphoma’
(instead of ‘Hodgkin’s lymphoma’)
 Entities are described using natural language. For example: ‘myocardial
infarction’ (instead of ‘infarction, myocardial’).
 Abbreviations are printed using upper case letters and followed by the complete
title in full. For example: ‘MI – myocardial infarction’.
 Parentheses are used in the tabular list to enclose the code to which an
exclusion term refers.

For example: 9A01.3 Infectious blepharitis Exclusions: Blepharoconjunctivitis (9A60.4)

2.4 Stem codes

ICD–11 stem codes are codes in a particular tabular list that can be used alone. Stem
codes may be entities or groupings of high relevance, or clinical entities that should
always be described as one entity. The design of stem codes makes sure that in use
cases that require only one code per case a meaningful minimum of information is
collected.

The stem codes of the ICD-11 are organised in 26 chapters that follow the traditional
pattern of ICD, relating to aetiology, relevant organ system, maternal status, perinatal
status, external causes, and factors influencing health status.

2.4.1 Combining stem codes and extension codes, and how

to order these in a complex code cluster
Stem codes from other parts of ICD and extension codes can be linked together to
describe a clinical concept in detail. They have to be grouped together in order to not
lose the information conveyed by the joint group of codes in data transmission and
evaluation. Such a group of codes is called a cluster. Cluster coding requires use of a
specific syntax to show which codes belong together when postcoordination is used.
This syntax has to comply with the following rules:

1. If only one stem code is coded, no clustering mechanisms need to be observed.

E.g. Condition: Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction BA41.0 Acute ST

elevation myocardial infarction

2. When postcoordinating to form a cluster, stem codes are always coded before
extension codes. (Note, however, the complex clustering scenario depicted in
Example 5 below, where a combination of multiple stem codes and linked
extension codes are combined in a single complex cluster).

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3. If one stem code is postcoordinated with one or more extension codes, the
combining syntax used is the ampersand (&).

Example 1: Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction, anterior wall, LAD

Condition (code) - Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction BA41.0 Acute ST elevation

myocardial infarction Specific anatomy - XA7RE3 Anterior wall of heart
Specific anatomy - XA7NQ7 Left anterior descending coronary artery Cluster:
BA41.0&XA7RE3&XA7NQ7

Example 2: Acute pyelonephritis, left side, E. coli Condition (code) - GB51 Acute
pyelonephritis

Laterality - XK8G Left Infectious agent - XN6P4 Escherichia coli Cluster:

GB51&XK8G&XN6P4

4. If two stem codes are postcoordinated to provide additional detail, it is important

to follow the order (within a cluster) according to the use case (e.g. mortality or
morbidity). The first stem code will be separated from the second stem code by
a slash (/).
If only one code can be retained during data analysis for mortality (underlying cause of
death) and public health prevention, priority of order should be given to the code that
best describes the aetiology of a condition. If only one code can be retained for
morbidity data analysis, priority should be given to the main condition (reason for
admission after study established at the end of the episode of health care).

Example 3: Mortality (underlying cause of death) code ordering within a cluster

Patient died because of their diabetic coma. The patient had Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Condition (terminal cause of death): 5A23 Diabetic coma Condition (underlying cause
of death): 5A11 Type 2 diabetes mellitus Mortality cluster order: 5A11/5A23

Example 4: Morbidity (main condition) code ordering within a cluster (if only one code
can be retained during data analysis)

Patient admitted to hospital in a diabetic coma. The patient had Type 2 diabetes
mellitus.
Main condition: 5A23 Diabetic coma Other condition: 5A11 Type 2 diabetes
mellitus Morbidity cluster order: 5A23/5A11

5. If a stem code is postcoordinated with extension codes and another stem code
with some more extension codes within a cluster, the specific syntax should be
designed to make a clear distinction between which extension codes in the
cluster belong to which stem codes. The following syntax has to be followed:
The first stem code is reported, followed by a ‘&’ followed by one or more
extension codes, each of them separated by ‘&’. Then a slash ‘/’ separates this
first section of the cluster from the next stem code which is followed by ‘&’ and
the extension codes for this specific stem code, each again separated by ‘&’.
Example 5: stem code & extension code / stem code & extension code & extension
code

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Left inguinal hernia with acute obstruction Condition (code) - DD51 Inguinal hernia
Laterality - XK8G Left
Associated with (use additional code, if desired) - ME24.2 Digestive system obstruction
Course - XT5R Acute Cluster: DD51&XK8G/ME24.2&XT5R

Postcoordination is only to be used to combine codes to describe and fully characterize

a documented clinical concept. If the documentation describes two distinct clinical
concepts that are represented by separate stem codes, they should not be reported
together in a postcoordinated cluster.

Example 6: Pedestrian fall injury

Concussion and open fracture shaft of left ulna due to fall on uneven sidewalk:

Condition (code) 1 - NA07.0 Concussion

Has causing condition (code also) - PA60 Unintentional fall on the same level or from
less than 1 metre
Substance producing injury - XE1DA Uneven surface, not elsewhere classified
Place of occurrence - XE53A Sidewalk Cluster - NA07.0/ PA60& XE1DA&XE53A

Condition (code) 2 - NC32.2 Fracture of shaft of ulna

Laterality - XK8G Left
Fracture open or closed - XJ7YM Open fracture
Associated with: PA60 Unintentional fall on the same level or from less than 1 metre
Objects of living things involved in causing - XE1DA Uneven surface, not elsewhere
classified
Place of occurrence - XE53A Sidewalk Cluster: NC32.2 & XK8G& XJ7YM /PA60 &
XE1DA & XE53A

Permissible combinations of stem codes and extension codes are described by

sanctioning rules that are embedded in the Foundation Component of ICD–11. They
will prevent impossible combinations, and the creation of combinations that already
exist in precoordination in the tabular list.

2.4.2 Special extension codes

The inclusion of the new Extension codes in ICD–11 provides capacity for coding
qualifying information of linked stem codes.

[Link] Diagnosis Timing - ‘Present on admission’ vs. ‘Developed during

stay’
The inclusion of the new Extension codes in ICD–11 provides capacity for coding
qualifying information of linked stem codes. Among the new qualifying features is the
particularly important status display feature that allows for distinction of diagnoses
present at admission from diagnoses arising after hospital stay began.

The latter distinction is particularly important, because it allows for the targeted
identification of a number of in-hospital diagnoses that may represent adverse events
associated with health care. A majority of coded concepts in a hospital record are
present at admission. Recognizing this, the most common operational desire in ICD–11
will be to flag a diagnosis that developed after admission.

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Example 1:

A patient with long-standing type 1 diabetes, admitted to hospital because of a

myocardial infarction. Main condition: Myocardial infarction Other condition: Diabetes
mellitus, type 1 In this instance, both conditions are present at admission, but one of
them (myocardial infarction) does not need to be coded as being ‘present on
admission’ because it is the main condition, designated in this example as being ‘the
condition that is determined to be the reason for admission, established at the end of
the episode of health care’. The appropriate coding of this scenario therefore includes a
combination of two clustered coding entities, each of which involves a stem code linked
to an accompanying extension code i.e.:

 ‘Stem code for myocardial infarction’&‘ Discharge Diagnosis Type Extension

code for reason for main condition’
 ‘Stem code for diabetes mellitus type 1’&‘Diagnosis timing Extension code for
present on admission’

Note that for both coded entities in the above example, an ampersand (&) is used. In
the first cluster, the stem code for myocardial infarction is linked to a diagnosis type
extension code for main condition diagnosis type. In the second cluster, the stem code
for diabetes mellitus type 1 is linked to a diagnosis timing extension code for present on
admission.

Example 2:

A patient with long-standing type 1 diabetes, admitted to hospital because of chest

pain. After assessment diagnosed with myocardial infarction. The patient develops
deep vein thrombosis as an in-hospital complication of care. Main condition: Myocardial
infarction Other conditions: Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Deep vein thrombosis (arising
after hospital stay began)

In this example, a diagnosis timing extension code for ‘developed after admission’ is
linked by cluster coding to a stem code for ‘deep vein thrombosis’. The first two
diagnostic concepts, meanwhile, are coded exactly as per the preceding example. i.e.,

 ‘Stem code for myocardial infarction’&‘Discharge Diagnosis Type Extension

code for main condition’
 ‘Stem code for diabetes mellitus type 1’&‘Diagnosis Timing Extension code for
present on admission’
 ‘Stem code for deep vein thrombosis’&‘Diagnosis Timing Extension code for
developed after admission’

Again, each of the three cluster entities uses an ampersand ‘&’ because the second
code in the cluster is an extension code.

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2.5 Extension codes

Extension codes have been designed to standardise the way additional information is
added to stem codes, and the adoption of multi-dimensional coding results in a
substantially reduced amount of stem codes.

Extension codes should never be used alone and must always be linked to a stem
code. One or more extension codes can be linked when coding a specific condition.
Extension codes are provided for use as supplementary or additional codes when it is
desired to identify more detail in entities classified elsewhere.

There are two main types of Extension codes:

 Type 1 extension codes allow the user to add detail to a stem code. The
category refers to the same diagnosis with or without the Type I extension code.
These extension codes provide important additional information, such as
whether a condition is acute or chronic - and where it is located.
 Type 2 extension codes represent diagnosis code descriptors. The meaning of
the code refers to the same condition, but the use of type 2 – diagnosis code
descriptor extension code alters its interpretation.

Overview of the Type 1 Extension codes

 Severity scale value

 Temporality (course of the condition)
 Aetiology
 Topology Scale Value
 Specific anatomic detail
 Histopathology
 Dimensions of injury
 Dimensions of external causes
 Consciousness
 Substances
Overview of Type 2 – Diagnosis Code Descriptors - Extension codes

 Discharge diagnosis types

 Diagnosis timing
 Diagnosis timing in relation to surgical procedure
 Diagnosis method of confirmation
 Diagnosis certainty
 Obstetrical diagnosis timing
 Capacity or context

2.6 ICD Print and Electronic version

The ICD provides a standard for reporting, coding, selecting, and tabulating conditions
for different use cases. It provides guidance on finding the right code from a reported
condition.

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In the electronic version of the ICD, most information is interlinked and visible in the
relevant context. The content of the Reference Guide is the only additional document
required when coding with ICD-11.

In the print version, the information is divided into 3 volumes, the tabular list, the
reference guide, and the index. All three are needed to use the ICD correctly.

2.7 Tabular List, Special Tabulation Lists,

Qualifiers, and Modifiers
Volume 1 contains the Tabular list, which is an alphanumeric listing of diseases and
disease groups, inclusion and exclusion notes, and some coding rules. Chapters 1 to
25 of the ICD
approximately 15 000 entities at the 4, 5 or 6-character level.

In addition, there is a section on extension codes and one on traditional medicine. At

the end of Volume 1 the special tabulation lists are presented. These are not designed
for coding, but are for tabulation only.

2.8 Reference Guide

The Reference Guide contains an introduction to the context, components, and
intended use of the ICD. It describes the diverse components of ICD–11, provides
guidelines for certification, recording, rules for mortality coding (i.e. causes of death)
and morbidity coding (e.g. hospital statistics) and lists for tabulation of statistical data.

2.9 Index
The Alphabetical Index is a list of approximately 120 000 clinical terms (including
synonyms or phrases). The Index is used to find the relevant ICD codes or code
combinations for terms. The mention of a term in the index exclusively serves coding.
Mention of a term in the index does not mean approval or endorsement of a particular
condition.

2.10 The Foundation Component

The Foundation Component is the data source for production and maintenance of
tabular lists, index and the Reference Guide. It also includes additional content (see
‘content model’) that goes beyond the traditional paper-based use of a classification.
Depending on the setting within a country it can be decided to use the full Foundation
component or to focus on the parts that are essential to production and maintenance of
the Index and the Tabular list.

The Foundation Component serves to align the different tabular lists in content and to
define the categories. As such it allows standardised use of the ICD-11, independent of
the setting in which it is used. The Foundation Component includes, for example, links
to other classifications or terminologies that can be expanded in the future. Only if

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relevant for a country this information, or subsets of it, can be used in the application of
ICD-11. Please note that the mention of a term or entity in the foundation exclusively
serves ontological purposes. Mention of a term or entity in the foundation does not
mean approval or endorsement of a particular condition.

2.11 Online tools

The WHO provides the ICD–11 browser for ICD in multiple languages (linked from
[Link] This tool allows the user to retrieve concepts by searching terms,
anatomy or any other element of the content model. With this browser, users can also
contribute to the updating and continuous improvement of ICD with comments and
solutions. Such input is reviewed for consideration for inclusion on an annual basis.

ICD–11 can also be accessed using web services with user specific software. The IT
guide to the ICD provides more details on compatibility requirements. Both the web
services and the online browser allow access to all Tabular lists of the ICD, for mortality
and morbidity statistics, primary care, or for a specialty linearization for certain
specialised domains.

2.12 Basic coding and reporting guidelines

Coding is the assignment of one or more codes in order to represent the meaning of a
condition in as much detail as required. Before attempting to code, the coder should be
acquainted with the principles of classification and coding. In some instances, using
one code will provide sufficient detail. In other instances, it may be necessary to use
several codes together in order to express the level of detail required by the use case,
setting, or laws. For coding, users may use a print version of ICD, an online version, or
local software.

2.13 Coding step by step – clinical term

The table below compares the coding steps in a paper and an electronic environment.
The essential component of coding is finding a match to the reported clinical term –
having a good dictionary in the relevant language, and verifying the resulting code
against additional rules. In an electronic environment a sanctioning mechanism can
verify compliance with the coding rules.

Electronic Paper

1. Enter the statement or term in the 1. Look up the lead term in the Alphabetical
coding tool Index and applicable secondary terms.

2. Select the matching term, or one closest 2. Select the appropriate term, or one
to what you are looking for, among the closest to what you are looking for, among
displayed options the listed options

3. Verify the result in the tabular list

3. Verify the result in the tabular list
browser view for exclusions, inclusions
(Volume 1) for exclusions, inclusions and
and notes given at the level of that

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Electronic Paper

category, its grouping levels and at the notes given at the level of that category, its
chapter level. grouping levels and at the chapter level.
The WHO online browser and coding tool are available at [Link]

2.14 Adding detail – postcoordination and

cluster coding with multiple stem codes and
extension codes
All cases should be coded in a way to inform about aetiology and the manifestation of
the condition of interest. In some instances, the ICD category refers to both, while in
other instances more than one stem code (and extension code) needs to be used in
order to express the relevant detail. Postcoordination will be used in these cases.

E.g. Acute bleeding duodenal ulcer

Stem Code: DA63 Duodenal ulcer, unspecified Has manifestation (use additional code,
if desired): ME24.90 Acute gastrointestinal bleeding, not elsewhere classified Cluster:
DA63/ME24.90

However, postcoordination must never be used to replicate the meaning of a condition

that is a precoordinated concept.

E.g. Acute RSV bronchiolitis

Code: CA41.0 Acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus Explanation: Since
RSV bronchiolitis is a precoordinated concept in ICD-11, it is incorrect/prohibited to
replicate the meaning of the diagnostic statement using a stem code and extension
code (i.e. do not code: CA41.Z Acute bronchiolitis, unspecified&XN275 Human
respiratory syncytial virus)

E.g. Fracture, shaft of ulna

Code: NC32.2 Fracture of shaft of ulna Explanation: Since fracture of shaft of ulna is a
precoordinated concept in ICD-11, it is incorrect/prohibited to replicate the meaning of
the diagnostic statement using a stem code and extension code (i.e. do not code:
NC32 Fracture of forearm, unspecified&XA8U33 shaft of the ulna)

There may be less obvious cases across the ICD. In an electronic environment,
sanctioning rules will help to avoid this kind of mistake. For reporting purposes, any
correlated codes are linked using a forward slash (/) between stem codes and an
ampersand (&) is used to separate stem codes with extension codes.

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2.15 Electronic reporting

Electronic documentation will follow the principle of lossless collection of information at
the source. Best practice includes:

1. A text field that captures the clinical term or cause of death with the exact
wording reported by the health provider.
2. A data field that retains the identifier (URI) of the most exact matching chosen
entity of ICD-11 (index, code title or other element).
3. A data field for the relevant ICD-11 code.
In this way, the quality of the coding can be verified at any point in time. Also, specific
conditions can be identified and analysed, independently of them being linked to an
individual ICD code or lumped together in a code with other conditions.

2.16 Main uses of the ICD: Mortality

This section concerns the rules and guidelines adopted by the World Health Assembly
regarding the selection of a single cause or condition for routine tabulation from death
certificates. Guidelines are also provided for the application of the rules and for coding
of the condition selected for tabulation. Implementation of the ICD for mortality requires
setting up an infrastructure for reporting and storing information, designing information
flows, quality assurance and feedback, and training for classification users working with
the input or output of data.

Following the introductory information in this Section and 2.17, Section 2.18 explains
the basic concepts used in mortality coding. Sections 2.19 - 2.22, supplemented by
Annexes in Section 2.23, guides how to code and identify the underlying cause of
death, and Section 2.28 explains descriptions used in statistical tabulation and
international reporting for mortality.

2.20 Check for modifications of the starting

point (Steps M1 to M4)
The starting point you identified using Steps SP1 to SP8 is now considered the
tentative underlying cause. There may be special coding instructions on this tentative
underlying cause, or other reasons to modify the tentative underlying cause. Check
whether the tentative underlying cause should be modified by applying the modification
rules described in steps M1 to M3 (Modification rule 1 to Modification rule 3). Each step
contains one modification rule. At each step, there is a description of the modification
rule itself and what to do next. There are also bullet points with more detailed
instructions and explanations.

2.20.1 Step M1 – Special instructions

If the tentative underlying cause (TUC) selected in Steps SP1 to SP8 applies to a
special instruction listed in Section 2.21.3 Special instructions on linkages and other
provisions (Step M1), assign a new tentative underlying cause according to the
instruction.

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Next, reapply Step M1 to the new tentative underlying cause. Repeat until you have
found a tentative underlying cause that is not affected by any further special coding
instruction. Next, go to Step M2.

If the tentative underlying cause does not apply to instructions in Section 2.21.3, go to
Step M2.

If more than one instruction in Section 2.21.3 applies to the tentative underlying cause,
select the instruction relating to the priority underlying condition (see Section 2.18.6).

Note that there are two types of combination, ‘with mention of’ and ‘when reported as a
cause of’. Refer to Section 2.21.3 for details.

Sometimes the classification itself indicates a code for a combination of the tentative
underlying cause with another cause mentioned on the certificate. Use the combination
code unless an instruction on mortality coding in Section 2.21.3 indicates otherwise.

*Examples of ‘with mention of’:

Example 1

1 (a) Myocardial infarction

(b) Ischaemic heart disease

(c)

2
Ischaemic heart disease is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is
a special instruction on ischaemic heart disease reported with myocardial infarction,
and, according to this instruction, myocardial infarction is the new tentative underlying
cause.

Example 2

1 (a) Ischaemic heart disease

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c)

2 Cerebral infarction
Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with ischaemic heart disease’, and another one
on ‘atherosclerosis reported with cerebral infarction’. Ischaemic heart disease is the
priority underlying condition, so apply the instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with
ischaemic heart disease’ and select ischaemic heart disease as the new tentative
underlying cause.

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Example 3

1 (a) Cerebrovascular infarction

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c) Hypertension

2 Myocardial infarction
Hypertension is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There are special
instructions on ‘hypertension reported with cerebrovascular infarction ’and with
myocardial infarction. Cerebrovascular infarction is the priority underlying condition, so
apply the instruction on ’hypertension reported with cerebrovascular infarction’ and
select cerebrovascular infarction as the new tentative underlying cause.

Example 4

1 (a) Ischaemic heart disease

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c)

2 Myocardial infarction
Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with ischaemic heart disease’, and another one
on ‘atherosclerosis reported with myocardial infarction’. Ischaemic heart disease is the
priority underlying condition, so apply the instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with
ischaemic heart disease’ and select ischaemic heart disease as the new starting point.
Next, there is a special instruction on ‘ischaemic heart disease reported with
myocardial infarction’. Apply this instruction and select myocardial infarction as the new
tentative underlying cause.

*Examples of ‘when reported as the cause of’:

Example 5

1 (a) Dementia

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c)

2
Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported as the cause of dementia’. Apply this instruction
and select atherosclerotic dementia as the new tentative underlying cause.

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Example 6

1 (a) Atherosclerosis

(b)

(c)

2 Dementia
Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP2. Although there is
a special instruction on ‘dementia reported as caused by atherosclerosis’, this
instruction does not apply here because dementia is reported in Part 1(b) and not as
caused by atherosclerosis. In this case, atherosclerosis remains the tentative starting
point.

2.20.2 Step M2 – Specificity

If the tentative underlying cause describes a condition in general terms and a term that
provides more precise information about the site or nature of this condition is reported
on the certificate, assign this more informative term as the new tentative underlying
cause.

Next, reapply Step M2 to the new tentative underlying cause. Repeat until you have
found a tentative underlying cause that cannot be specified further.

If there is no term that further specifies the tentative underlying cause, go to Step M3.

The more specific description must refer to the same condition as the tentative
underlying cause. Do not disregard a generalised condition such as atherosclerosis
because a more specific but unrelated condition is reported on the certificate (see also
Example 2).

If there are several other expressions that provide more precise information on the
tentative underlying cause, select the priority underlying condition (see Section 2.18.6).

Note that the new tentative underlying cause itself is sometimes specified further by the
general term (see Example 3).

Example 1

1 (a) Cerebrovascular accident

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c)

2 Arterial embolism to brain stem

Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with cerebrovascular accident’; apply this
instruction and select cerebrovascular accident as the new starting point according to
Step M1. The type of cerebrovascular accident is described more precisely in Part 2 as
an arterial embolism to brain stem. This is the new tentative underlying cause.

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Example 2

1 (a) Cerebrovascular accident

(b) Atherosclerosis

(c)

2 Oat cell cancer originating in upper right lobe

Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported with cerebrovascular accident’; apply this
instruction and select cerebrovascular accident as the new tentative underlying cause
according to Step M1. There is no more specific description of the type of
cerebrovascular accident on the certificate, so cerebrovascular accident remains the
tentative underlying cause.

Example 3

1 (a) Meningitis

(b) Tuberculosis

(c)

2
Tuberculosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. The manifestation is
described as meningitis, and the two terms combine into tuberculous meningitis, which
is the tentative underlying cause.

2.20.3 Step M3 – Recheck Steps SP6, M1 and M2

If, at this point, the tentative underlying cause is not the same with the starting point
you selected in Steps SP1 to SP8, then go back to Step SP6. Repeat the procedures
described in Steps SP6, M1 and M2.

If the tentative underlying cause is the same with the starting point selected in Step
SP1 to SP8, go to Step M4.

 Do not go back to Step SP6 if the cause selected in Step M1 or M2 is correctly

reported as due to another condition, except when this condition is ill-defined.
 Also, do not go back to Step SP6 if the tentative underlying cause is a reaction
to treatment of a condition unlikely to cause death, as selected in Step SP8.

Example 1

1 (a) Sepsis

(b) Arterial disease, arterial embolism of left leg

(c)

2 Colon cancer

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Arterial disease is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. Arterial embolism
of left leg, reported as the second condition on line 1(b), is a specific type of arterial
disease. Therefore, select arterial embolism of left leg as the tentative underlying cause
in Step M2. Reapply Step SP6, because the tentative starting point is not the same as
the one selected in Steps SP1 to SP8. Colon cancer is an obvious cause of arterial
embolism, so colon cancer is the new starting point. No further modifications apply.
Code colon cancer (Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified) as the underlying cause
of death.

Example 2

1 (a) Sepsis

(b) Arterial disease, arterial embolism of left leg

(c) Atherosclerosis

2 Colon cancer
Atherosclerosis is the tentative starting point according to Step SP3. There is a special
instruction on ‘atherosclerosis reported as the cause of arterial disease’, and, according
to this instruction, arterial disease is the new starting point according to Step M1.
Arterial embolism of left leg, reported as the second condition on line 1(b), is a more
specific description of the type of arterial disease and is selected as the tentative
starting point in Step M2. Do not reapply Step SP6, because arterial embolism of left
leg is reported as due to atherosclerosis, and this is a correct causal relationship. No
further modifications apply. Code ‘arterial embolism of left leg, embolism and
thrombosis of arteries of lower extremities’ as the underlying cause of death.

2.20.4 Step M4 - Instructions on medical procedures, main

injury, poisoing, and maternal deaths
Finally, apply the following instructions to the tentative underlying cause selected by
applying Steps SP1 to SP8 and Steps M1 to M3.

If the tentative underlying cause is:

 Surgery, another type of medical procedure, a complication or postprocedural

condition, apply the instructions in Section 2.21.4 Special instructions on surgery
and other medical procedures (Step M4).
 In Chapter 22 Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external
causes, first code the external cause of the injury or poisoning as the underlying
cause of death. And add the main injury to the cluster by following instructions in
Section .
 In Chapter 23, External causes of morbidity and mortality, also add the main
injury to the cluster by following instructions in Section .
 Poisoning, use additional code from Chapter X, if applicable, to identify the
specific name of drug or toxic substance reported. If more than one drug or toxic
substance is reported on the certificate, apply instructions in Section 2.21.6
Special instructions on poisoning by drugs, medications and biological
substances (Step M4), to identify the drug, medicament or substance most likely

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to have caused the death.

If the decedent is a woman, and pregnancy, childbirth or puerperium is reported on the

certificate, determine whether to code the tentative underlying cause to Chapter 18,
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, according to the instructions in
Section 2.21.7 Special instructions on maternal mortality (Step M4).

When creating a cluster in Step M4, always put the code for the underlying cause of
death at the beginning of the cluster.

If the tentative underlying cause selected by applying Steps SP1 to SP8 and Steps M1
to M3 does not apply to either of the instructions in M4, or if the tentative underlying
cause is not further changed after application of M4, the tentative underlying cause you
have arrived is the underlying cause of death.

Note that other restrictions may apply, for example that the cause is limited to one of
the sexes (see also Section 2.22.7 or to a specific age range, or that the cause of
death is improbable, considering the geographical setting. Therefore, always check
whether any such restrictions apply to the underlying cause you selected.

2.21 Special instructions in selecting the

underlying cause of death
The following sections are to be referred to in applying each instruction of
Section 2.19.3 (Steps SP1 to SP8) and Section 2.20 (Steps M1 to M4).

2.21.1 Special instructions on accepted and rejected

sequences (Steps SP3 and SP4)
This section lists sequences of causes of death that should be accepted or rejected
when selecting the underlying cause of death. As described in Section 2.18.2 Causal
relationship and sequence, these instructions are set aiming to produce the most useful
mortality statistics. Individual countries should not correct what is assumed to be an
error, since changes at the national level will lead to data that are less comparable to
data from other countries, and thus less useful for analysis.

A reported causal relationship not listed as rejected in this section should be accepted,
as far as possible, because the certifier’s opinion about the causes leading to death
should not be disregarded lightly.

When applying Steps SP3 and SP4, reject the relationships listed in this section.
Exceptions are listed as ‘accept’ in the table following each instruction.

Note that all information on causal relationship provided on the certificate should be
considered. This applies also if the information appears in the ‘wrong’ place of the
certificate. For example, if the sequence in Part 1 starts with a disease ‘A’, and
information elsewhere on the certificate states that disease ‘A’ was due to a disease
‘B’, then consider ‘B’ as the tentative starting point.

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[Link] Conflicting durations

Do not accept a condition with a stated duration as due to a condition with a shorter
duration.

Consequence Caused by

A condition with a stated duration Do not accept a condition with a shorter duration

[Link] Infectious diseases due to other conditions

Do not accept the following infectious and parasitic diseases as due to any other
causes, not even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, malignant neoplasms
or conditions impairing the immune system:

Condition Code

Cholera 1A00

Botulism 1A11

Leprosy 1B20

Scarlet fever 1B50

Leptospirosis 1B91

Plague 1B93

Tularaemia 1B94

Brucellosis 1B95

Anthrax 1B97

Trench fever 1C11.1

Whooping cough 1C12

Tetanus 1C13

Obstetrical tetanus 1C14

Tetanus neonatorum 1C15

Diphtheria 1C17

Meningococcal disease 1C1C

Infections due to Chlamydia psittaci 1C22

Trachoma 1C23.Z

Rickettsioses 1C3Z

Viral infections of the central nervous system 1C80-1C8Z

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Condition Code

Dengue 1D20-1D2Z

Yellow fever 1D47

Chikungunya virus disease 1D40

O’nyong-nyong fever 1D42

Rift Valley fever 1D44

West Nile virus infection 1D46

Zika virus disease 1D48

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever 1D49

Omsk haemorrhagic fever 1D4A

Kyasanur Forest disease 1D4B

Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever 1D4C

Certain arthropod-borne viral fevers 1D4Z

Ebola disease 1D60.0

Marburg disease 1D60.1

Argentinian haemorrhagic fever 1D61.0

Bolivian haemorrhagic fever 1D61.1

Lassa fever 1D61.2

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome 1D62.0

Severe acute respiratory syndrome 1D65

Mumps 1D80

Viral haemorrhagic fever, not elsewhere classified 1D86

Influenza due to identified zoonotic or pandemic influenza virus 1E31

Acute hepatitis B 1E50.1

Acute hepatitis C 1E50.2

Chronic hepatitis B 1E51.0

Chronic hepatitis C 1E51.1

Chronic hepatitis D 1E51.2

Smallpox 1E70

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Condition Code

Monkeypox 1E71

Rubella 1F02

Measles 1F03

Malaria 1F40-1F4Z

African trypanosomiasis 1F51

Chagas disease 1F53

Leishmaniasis 1F54

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis 8A45.01

Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 8E02.0

Consequence condition Causing condition

Cholera etc., listed above Do not accept other causes

Do not accept the following infectious diseases as due to other causes, except HIV
disease, malignant neoplasms and conditions impairing the immune system:

 Intestinal infections due to Shigella 1A02

 Typhoid fever 1A07
 Paratyphoid fever 1A08
 Infections due to other Salmonella 1A09
 Tuberculosis 1B10-1B1Z

Consequence condition Causing condition

Intestinal infections due to Accept HIV disease, malignant neoplasms, and conditions
Shigella impairing the immune system

Typhoid fever Do not accept other causes

Paratyphoid fever

Infections due to other

Salmonella

Tuberculosis
Do not accept HIV disease 1C60 - 1C62 as due to other conditions, except:

 conditions necessitating blood transfusion, such as haemophilia, anaemia and

major injuries
 invasive procedures, such as surgery
 drug abuse
Examples of such conditions are given in the Mortality Annex 2.23.5 Causes of HIV.
Note that the list in Annex 2.23.5 is not complete.

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Consequence
Causing condition
condition

HIV Accept

- conditions necessitating blood transfusion, such as

haemophilia, anaemia and major injuries

- invasive procedures, such as surgery

- drug abuse

(for examples, refer to Mortality Annex 2.23.5.)

Do not accept other causes

Do not accept Influenza as due to any other cause.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Influenza Do not accept other causes

Infectious diseases not listed above are accepted to be caused by other conditions.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Infectious diseases not listed above Accept other causes

[Link] Malignant neoplasms due to other conditions

Do not accept a malignant neoplasm as due to any other cause, except the following
malignant neoplasms as due to HIV disease 1C60 - 1C62 :

 Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm 2A60.5, specified as primary in

brain
 Follicular lymphoma 2A80, specified as primary in brain
 Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas 2A81, specified as immunoblastic
 Mantle cell lymphoma 2A85.5, specified as primary in brain
 Burkitt lymphoma including Burkitt leukaemia 2A85.6
 B-cell lymphoma, mixed features 2A86, specified as primary in brain
 Mature B-cell neoplasms, unspecified 2A8Z, specified as primary in brain
 Mature T-cell or NK-cell neoplasms 2A90-2B2Z, specified as primary in brain
 Hodgkin lymphoma 2B30, specified as primary in brain
 Kaposi sarcoma, primary site 2B57
 Malignant neoplasms of oropharynx 2B6A
 Malignant neoplasms of anus or anal canal 2C00
 Malignant neoplasms of vulva 2C70
 Malignant neoplasms of vagina 2C71
 Malignant neoplasms of cervix uteri 2C77, specified as invasive
 Malignant neoplasms of penis 2C81

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Consequence condition Causing condition

Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx etc., listed above Accept HIV disease

Do not accept other causes

Malignant neoplasms not listed above Do not accept other causes

[Link] Haemophilia due to other conditions

Do not accept haemophilia as due to any other cause.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Haemophilia Do not accept other causes

[Link] Diabetes due to other conditions

Do not accept Type 1 diabetes mellitus as due to any other cause except conditions
causing autoimmune destruction of beta-cells.

Do not accept Type 2 diabetes mellitus as due to any other cause except conditions
causing insulin resistance.

Do not accept ‘Other and Unspecified diabetes mellitus’ as due to any other cause
except conditions causing damage to the pancreas.

See Mortality Annex 2.23.6 for a list of the conditions that can cause diabetes.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Accept conditions causing autoimmune destruction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus
of beta cells

Do not accept other causes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus Accept conditions causing insulin resistance

Do not accept other causes

Other and Unspecified diabetes

Accept conditions causing damage to the pancreas
mellitus

Do not accept other causes

[Link] Rheumatic fever due to other conditions

Do not accept Acute rheumatic fever 1B40-1B42 and Heart valve diseases BB60-BC0Z
with fourth character (.0) rheumatic due to other causes, and [], except:

 Scarlet fever 1B50

 Streptococcal sepsis, due to Streptococcus group A or unspecified
 Streptococcal pharyngitis 1B51
 Streptococcal tonsillitis CA03.0

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Consequence condition Causing condition

Acute rheumatic fever Accept

Rheumatic heart valve diseases - Scarlet fever

Chronic rheumatic heart - Streptococcal sepsis, due to Streptococcus group A

diseases NEC or unspecified

- Streptococcal pharyngitis

- Acute tonsillitis

Do not accept other causes

[Link] Hypertension due to other conditions

Do not accept hypertensive conditions as due to a neoplasm, except:

 endocrine neoplasms
 renal neoplasms
 carcinoid tumours
Consequence condition Causing condition

Hypertensive conditions Accept

- endocrine neoplasms

- renal neoplasms

- carcinoid tumours

Do not accept other neoplasms

[Link] Certain ischaemic heart disease due to other conditions

Do not accept Angina pectoris BA40 and Chronic ischaemic heart disease BA50-BA5Z
as due to a neoplasm.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Angina pectoris Accept other causes

Chronic ischaemic heart disease

Do not accept neoplasms

[Link] Atherosclerosis due to other conditions

Do not accept an atherosclerotic condition as due to a neoplasm.

Consequence condition Causing condition

An atherosclerotic condition Accept other causes

Do not accept neoplasms

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[Link] Congenital anomalies due to other conditions

Do not accept a congenital anomaly as due to any other cause, including immaturity,
except:

 congenital anomaly due to a chromosome abnormality or a congenital

malformation syndrome
 Pulmonary Hypoplasia due to a congenital anomaly
Consequence
Causing condition
condition

Accept chromosome abnormality, congenital malformation

A congenital anomaly
syndrome

Do not accept other causes, including immaturity

Pulmonary Hypoplasia Accept a congenital anomaly

Do not accept other causes, including immaturity

[Link] Unintentional cause of morbidity or mortality due to other

conditions
Do not accept unintentional cause of morbidity or mortality as due to causes coded in
other chapters, except:

 Fall or Exposure to unspecified factor causing fracture as due to a Disorder of

bone density and structure
 Fall as due to a (pathological) fracture caused by a Disorder of bone density and
structure
 Asphyxia or aspiration as due to other causes

Consequence condition Causing condition

Unintentional cause of morbidity or mortality

Do not accept causes in other chapters
PA60 - PB6Z not listed below

Accept a Disorder of bone density and

Fall PA60 - PB6Z
structure

a (pathological) fracture caused by

Disorder of bone density and structure

Exposure to unspecified factor causing Accept a Disorder of bone density and

fracture structure

Unintentional threat to breathing by

Accept other causes
inhalation specified asphyxia or aspiration

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[Link] Suicide due to other conditions

Do not accept suicide PA80 - PD3Zas due to any other cause.

Consequence condition Causing condition

Suicide Do not accept other causes

2.21.2 Special instructions on obvious cause (Step SP6)

This section lists conditions that should be considered an obvious cause of conditions
selected as tentative starting point in Steps SP1 to SP5.

[Link] Complications of HIV

Consider HIV disease 1C60-1C62 and [] as an obvious cause of infectious diseases:

 Cryptosporidiosis 1A32
 Cystoisosporiasis 1A33
 Infections due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria 1B21
 Certain mycobacterial infections affecting the skin EA5Y
 Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy 8A45.02
 Herpes simplex infection, of skin or mucous membrane 1F00.0, disseminated
1F00.3, other 1F00.Y or unspecified 1F00.Z, specified as chronic ulcers,
bronchitis, pneumonia, or oesophagitis
 Cytomegaloviral disease 1D82, except Cytomegaloviral hepatitis 1D82.0, and
except for liver, spleen, lymph nodes
 Candidosis of gastrointestinal tract 1F23.2, specified as esophagus
 Pulmonary candidosis 1F23.31
 Coccidioidomycosis 1F25
 Histoplasmosis 1F2A
 Cryptococcosis 1F27
 Pneumonia due to pneumocystis CA40.20
Consider HIV disease HIV disease 1C60-1C62 , but not [], as an obvious cause of
infectious diseases (Chapter 1) not listed above, except those listed in Section [Link]
Infectious diseases due to other conditions. Note that Laboratory evidence of HIV
(MA14.0) is not considered as an obvious cause of these conditions.

Consider both HIV disease 1C60-1C62 and Laboratory evidence of HIV MA14.0 as the
obvious cause of the following malignant neoplasms:

 Follicular lymphoma 2A80, specified as primary in brain

 Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas 2A81, specified as immunoblastic
 Mantle cell lymphoma 2A85.5, specified as primary in brain
 Burkitt lymphoma including Burkitt leukaemia 2A85.6
 B-cell lymphoma, mixed features 2A86, specified as primary in brain
 Mature B-cell neoplasms, unspecified 2A8Z, specified as primary in brain
 Hodgkin lymphoma 2B30, specified as primary in brain
 Kaposi sarcoma, primary site 2B57

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 Malignant neoplasms of cervix uteri 2C77, specified as invasive

Consider HIV disease 1C60-1C62 as an obvious cause of immune deficiency.

Consider HIV disease 1C60-1C62 as an obvious cause of pneumonia CA40.

Consider HIV disease 1C60-1C62 as an obvious cause of Cachexia, unspecified

MG20.Z.

[Link] Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile

Consider enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile 1A04 as an obvious consequence of
[], specified as antibiotic therapy.

[Link] Sepsis
Consider the following as obvious causes of sepsis 1G40-1G41:

 conditions that impair the immune system

 wasting diseases (such as malignant neoplasms and malnutrition)
 diseases causing paralysis (such as cerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis)
 serious respiratory conditions
 serious injuries (grade 1–4 according to the injury priority list in the Annex ).

[Link] Complications of diabetes

Consider Diabetes mellitus 5A10-5A14 as an obvious cause of the following conditions:

 Acidosis 5C73
 Polyneuropathy, unspecified 8C0Z
 Certain specified mononeuropathies 8C12
 Other specified primary disorders of muscles 8C7Y, specified as amyotrophy but
without specification of aetiology
 Disorders of autonomic nervous system, unspecified 8D8Z
 Anterior uveitis, unspecified 9A96.Z
 Cataract, unspecified 9B10.Z
 Chorioretinal inflammation 9B65.2
 Retinal vascular occlusions 9B74
 Background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes 9B78.1
 Other proliferative retinopathy 9B78.2
 Retinal haemorrhage 9B78.5
 Disorders of the retina, unspecified 9B7Z
 Lower limb atherosclerosis BD40.0
 Chronic arterial occlusive disease, unspecified BD4Z
 Necrobiosis lipoidica EE80.1
 Ulcer of skin of uncertain nature ME60.2, specified as lower limb
 Inflammatory arthropathies, unspecified FA2Z
 Chronic neuropathic pain, unspecified MG30.5Z
 Nephritic syndrome GB40
 Nephrotic syndrome GB41
 Persistent proteinuria or albuminuria GB42
 Chronic kidney disease GB61
 Kidney failure, unspecified GB6Z

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 Smooth contracted kidney MF54.0

 Diseases of the urinary system, unspecified GC2Z, specified as kidney
conditions
 Gangrene MC85
 Coma MB20.1
 Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry MA18.Y, specified as
acetonaemia, azotaemia, and related conditions

[Link] Dehydration
Consider any intestinal infectious disease as an obvious cause of Volume depletion
5C70.

[Link] Dementia
Consider conditions that typically involve irreversible brain damage as obvious causes
of dementia if no other cause of the dementia is stated.

Consider trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) LD40.0 as an obvious cause of Dementia due

to Alzheimer disease 6D80 or of unknown or unspecified cause 6D8Z, and Alzheimer
disease 8A20.

[Link] Disorders of intellectual development

Consider the following conditions as obvious casuse of intellectual development 6A00:

 Post haemorrhagic hydrocephalus 8D64.2, specified as neonatal

 Foetus or newborn affected by maternal factors or by complications of
pregnancy, labour or delivery KA00-KA0Z
 Disorders of newborn related to slow foetal growth or foetal malnutrition KA20
 Disorders of newborn related to short gestation or low birth weight, not
elsewhere classified KA21
 Intracranial laceration or haemorrhage due to birth injury KA40.0
 Cerebral oedema due to birth injury KA40.1
 Birth injury to central nervous system, unspecified KA40.Z
 Birth injury, unspecified KA4Z
 Other bacterial infections of the newborn KA61
 Viral infection in the foetus or newborn KA62
 Fungal infection of foetus or newborn KA63
 Parasitic diseases in the foetus or newborn KA64
 Other specified infections of the foetus or newborn KA6Y
 Infections of the foetus or newborn, unspecified KA6Z
 Intrauterine hypoxia KB20
 Birth asphyxia KB21
 Intracranial nontraumatic haemorrhage of foetus or newborn KA82
 Neonatal kernicterus KA86
 Neonatal cerebral ischaemia KB00
 Periventricular cysts of newborn KB01
 Neonatal cerebral leukomalacia KB02
 Neonatal encephalopathy KB03
 Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy of newborn KB04
 Neonatal hydrocephalus KB05

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 Neonatal seizures KB06

[Link] Heart failure and unspecified heart disease

Consider other heart conditions as the obvious causes of Diseases of the myocardium
or cardiac chambers, unspecified BC4Z and Heart failure BD10-BD1Z.

[Link] Embolism
Consider venous thrombosis, phlebitis or thrombophlebitis, valvular heart disease,
childbirth or any operation as obvious causes of diseases described as ‘embolic’.
However, there must be a clear route from the place where the thrombus formed and
the place of the embolism.

[Link] Oesophageal varices

Consider the following liver diseases as the obvious causes of Oesophageal varices
DA26.0:

 Chronic viral hepatitis 1E51

 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease DB92
 Hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis DB93
 Alcoholic liver disease DB94
 Primary biliary cholangitis DB96.1
 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified DB97.2
 Infarction of liver DB98.0
 Peliosis hepatis DB98.1
 Hepatic veno-occlusive disease DB98.6
 Portal hypertension DB98.7
 Passive congestion of liver DB98.8
 Hepatorenal syndrome DB99.2
 Other diseases of liver DB99.Y
 Diseases of liver, unspecified DB9Z
[Link] Pneumonia
Consider the following as obvious causes of Pneumonia CA40 or Pneumonitis due to
solids and liquids CA71 except those due to oils or essences CA71.1:

 conditions that impair the immune system

 wasting diseases (such as malignant neoplasms and malnutrition)
 diseases causing paralysis (such as cerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis)
 serious respiratory conditions
 conditions that affect the process of swallowing
Other diseases that limit the ability to care for oneself, including dementia and
degenerative diseases of the nervous system, poisoning, and serious injuries (grade 1–
4 according to the injury priority list in the Mortality Annex ).

[Link] Pulmonary oedema

Consider the following conditions as obvious causes of Pulmonary oedema CB01:

 heart disease (including pulmonary heart disease)

 conditions affecting the lung parenchyma, such as:
o lung infections
o aspiration and inhalation

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o respiratory distress syndrome

o high altitude
o circulating toxins
 conditions causing fluid overload, such as:
o kidney failure
o hypoalbuminaemia
 congenital anomalies affecting the pulmonary circulation, such as:
o congenital stenosis of pulmonary veins
[Link] Nephritic syndrome
Consider any streptococcal infection (scarlet fever, streptococcal sore throat, etc.) as
the obvious cause of Nephritic syndrome GB40 or Nephrotic syndrome GB41.

[Link] Pyelonephritis
Consider any urinary obstruction from conditions such as hyperplasia of prostate or
ureteral stenosis as the obvious cause of the following Renal tubulo-interstitial
diseases:

 Acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis GB50

 Acute pyelonephritis GB51
 Tubulo-interstitial nephritis, not specified as acute or chronic GB54
 Other specified chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis GB55.Y
 Chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis, unspecified GB55.Z

[Link] Acute renal failure

Consider a urinary tract infection as an obvious cause of Acute kidney failure GB60,
provided there is no indication that the renal failure was present before the urinary tract
infection developed.

[Link] Primary atelectasis of newborn

Consider the following congenital kidney conditions, Foetus or newborn affected by
premature rupture of membranes KA01.1 or by oligohydramnios KA01.2 as obvious
causes of Primary atelectasis of newborn KB2B:

 Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial disease GB82

 Other specified cystic or dysplastic kidney disease GB8Y
 Cystic or dysplastic kidney disease, unspecified GB8Z
 Atresia or stenosis of ureter LB31.8
 Agenesis of ureter LB31.9
 Other specified structural developmental anomalies of urinary therapeutic
LB31.Y
 Meckel-Gruber syndrome LD2F.13

[Link] Premature rupture of membranes and oligohydramnios

Consider the following congenital kidney conditions as obvious causes of Foetus or
newborn affected by premature rupture of membranes KA01.1 or by oligohydramnios
KA01.2:

 Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial disease GB82

 Other specified cystic or dysplastic kidney disease GB8Y
 Cystic or dysplastic kidney disease, unspecified GB8Z
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 Atresia or stenosis of ureter LB31.8

 Agenesis of ureter LB31.9
 Other specified structural developmental anomalies of urinary therapeutic
LB31.Y
 Meckel-Gruber syndrome LD2F.13

[Link] Haemorrhage
Consider anticoagulant poisoning or overdose as obvious causes of haemorrhage.
However, do not consider anticoagulant therapy, without mention of poisoning or
overdose, as an obvious cause of haemorrhage. Further, consider treatment with
steroid, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as obvious causes
of gastric haemorrhage. Consider gastrointestinal haemorrhage as an obvious cause of
secondary or unspecified anaemia.

[Link] Aspiration and inhalation

Consider conditions listed under Section [Link] Pneumonia, as obvious causes of
aspiration and inhalation.

[Link] Surgery and other invasive medical procedures

Consider surgery or other invasive medical procedures, carried out within four weeks
before death, as obvious causes of conditions that are considered common
postprocedural complications. This applies also if the surgery or procedure is reported
in a separate space on the certificate and not in Part 1 or Part 2.

A list of such conditions, with specific instructions, is given in Mortality Annex 2.23.7
List of conditions to be considered direct consequences of surgery and other invasive
medical procedures. If a condition that can be treated by surgery or other invasive
medical procedures is reported on the certificate and surgery or a procedure of the
same site is also reported on the certificate, then assume that this condition was the
cause of the surgery or procedure.

[Link] Common secondary conditions

Consider the following as the obvious cause of the common secondary conditions
listed in the table below:

 wasting diseases (such as malignant neoplasms and malnutrition)

 diseases causing paralysis (such as cerebral haemorrhage or thrombosis)
 other disease that limits the ability to care for oneself
 including dementia and degenerative diseases of the nervous system
 serious injuries (grade 1-4 according to the injury priority list in the Annex )

However, respiratory conditions should not be considered an obvious causes of such

secondary conditions.

Conditions in categories flagged with an ‘M’ (Maybe) should be considered obvious

consequences of wasting and paralysing conditions only if they meet the prerequisite
for code assignment noted in the final column of the table.

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Common secondary conditions

Consequence Maybe Qualifier

3A00.0 Acquired iron deficiency

anaemia due to blood loss

3A9Z Anaemias or other erythrocyte

disorders, unspecified

5B51 Wasting in infants, children or

adolescents

5B52 Acute malnutrition in infants,

children or adolescents

5B71 Protein deficiency

5B7Z Unspecified undernutrition

5C70 Volume depletion

8B40 Cauda equina syndrome

8E45 Locked-in syndrome

BB00 Pulmonary thromboembolism

BD30.0 Acute upper limb arterial

occlusion

BD30.2 Acute lower limb arterial

occlusion

BD71.4 Lower limb deep vein

thrombosis

BD71.Y Other specified deep vein

thrombosis

BD72 Venous thromboembolism

DA91.31 Enterolith of small intestine

DB30.3 Impaction of large intestine

DB30.2 Acute mesenteric venous

occlusion

EH90 Pressure ulceration

GB50 Acute tubulo-interstitial Diseases causing paralysis or inability to

M
nephritis control bladder

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Consequence Maybe Qualifier

GB51 Acute pyelonephritis

GB55.Y Other specified chronic

tubulo-interstitial nephritis

GB55.Z Chronic tubulo-interstitial

nephritis, unspecified

GB54 Tubulo-interstitial nephritis, not

specified as acute or chronic

GB60-GB6Z Kidney failure

The condition in GB90.3 must be

GB90.3 Ischaemia or infarction of
M specified as an embolism of the renal
kidney
artery

Diseases causing paralysis or inability to

GC00.1 Infectious cystitis M
control bladder

GC00.3 Interstitial cystitis

GC00.Z Cystitis, unspecified

GC01.4 Neuromuscular dysfunction

of bladder, not elsewhere classified

Diseases causing paralysis or inability to

GC02.0 Urethral abscess M
control bladder

GC02.1 Nonspecific urethritis

GC02.Y Other specified urethritis

and urethral syndrome

Diseases causing paralysis or inability to

GC03 Urethral stricture M control bladder; Exclude post traumatic
urethral strictures

GC08 Urinary tract infection, site not Diseases causing paralysis or inability to
M
specified control bladder

MB50-MB5Z Paralytic symptoms

ME05.0 Constipation

MG20.Z Cachexia, unspecified

2.21.3 Special instructions on linkages and other provisions (Step M1)

Use the list in this section in Step M1.

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The tentative underlying cause is listed in the left-hand column. If the conditions
specified in the right-hand column apply, then use the code in bold as the new tentative
underlying cause. There are two types of combination:

‘with mention of’ means that the other condition may appear anywhere on the certificate;
‘when reported as the cause of’ means that the other condition must appear in a correct causal
relationship or be otherwise indicated as being due to the tentative underlying cause.
For some conditions, there are further requirements, for example that a specific term
has been used either for the tentative underlying cause or for the condition that may
change the underlying cause code.

TUC is:

Chapter 1
Certain
infectious or When reported as cause of:
parasitic
diseases

2A00-2A0Z Neoplasms of brain or central nervous system

2A20-2B3Z Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid tissues

2B50-2E2Z Malignant neoplasms, except of lymphoid,

haematopoietic, central nervous system or related tissues

Code to: 2A00-2A0Z, 2A20-2B3Z, or 2B50-2E2Z

Exception: HIV disease

Code to: 1C60 Human immunodeficiency virus disease associated

with tuberculosis, 1C61 Human immunodeficiency virus disease
associated with malaria or 1C62 Human immunodeficiency virus
disease without mention of tuberculosis or malaria, with 5th character
3 HIV disease clinical stage 4 (AIDS)

TUC is:

1A33 Cystoisosporiasis with mention of:

1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency

1D82 Cytomegaloviral disease
virus disease

1B21 Infections due to non-tuberculous

mycobacteria

1B2Y Other specified mycobacterial

diseases

1B2Z Mycobacterial diseases,

unspecified

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TUC is:

1F00 Herpes simplex

Code to:
infections, except 1F00.Z

1F23.2 Candidosis of gastrointestinal 1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency

tract virus disease

1F23.31 Pulmonary candidosis

1F25 Coccidioidomycosis

If desired, postcoordination may be used to

1F27 Cryptococcosis specify the individual associated condition
reported.

1F2A Histoplasmosis

1F2G Pneumocystosis

1F57 Toxoplasmosis

8C70.40 Dominant limb-girdle muscular

dystrophy

2A60.5 Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell

neoplasm

2A80 Follicular lymphoma

2A81 Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas

2A85 Other specified mature B-cell

neoplasms or lymphoma

2A85.6 Burkitt lymphoma including

Burkitt leukaemia

2A86 B-cell lymphoma, mixed features

2A90-2B2Z Mature T-cell or NK-cell

neoplasmsexcept 2B03

2B30 Hodgkin lymphoma

2B33 Malignant haematopoietic

neoplasms without further specification

2B57 Kaposi sarcoma, primary site

2C77 Malignant neoplasms of cervix uteri

8A45.02 Progressive multifocal

leukoencephalopathy

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TUC is:

8E47 Encephalopathy, not elsewhere

classified

CA40.20 Pneumonia due to

pneumocystis

MG20.Z Cachexia, unspecified

TUC is:

1A61 Early syphilis with mention of:

1A62 Late syphilis

Code to: 1A62

TUC is:

1B10-1B1Z
with mention of:
Tuberculosis

1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency virus disease

MA14.0 Laboratory evidence of human immunodeficiency virus

Code to:

1C60 Human immunodeficiency virus disease associated with

tuberculosis

TUC is:

1B11 Tuberculosis of the

with mention of:
nervous system

1B12 Tuberculosis of other

1B10 Tuberculosis of the respiratory system
systems and organs

Code to: 1B10 , unless reported as the cause of and with

a specified duration exceeding that of the condition in
1B10

TUC is:

1C1C.2 Meningococcaemia with mention of:

1C1C.0 Meningococcal meningitis

Code to: 1C1C.0

with mention of:

1C1C.1 Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

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TUC is:

code to: 1C1C.1

TUC is:

1E50 Acute viral hepatitis 1E50.0 Acute hepatitis A

when reported as the cause of:

DB93 Hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis

DB99.8 Chronic hepatic failure

Code to:

1E51 Chronic viral hepatitis

TUC is:

1C60-1C62.Z Human
immunodeficiency virus Note:
disease

Modes of dying, ill-defined conditions and conditions

unlikely to cause death should not be linked to categories in
1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency virus disease
unless the coding tool guides you.

When there are conditions classifiable to two or more

categories, code to the most severe stage. If desired,
postcoordination may be used to specify the individual
associated condition reported.

TUC is:

Chapter 3 Diseases of the

when reported as the cause of:
blood or blood-forming organs

1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency virus disease,

4A00-4A0Z Primary and where the certificate indicates that the HIV disease
immunodeficiencies is a result of a blood transfusion given treatment for the
originating condition

4A20 Acquired code to: 1C60-1C62.Z Human immunodeficiency virus

immunodeficiencies disease

4B00-4B0Z Immune system

disorders involving white cell
lineages

4B20-4B2Y Certain disorders

involving the immune system

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TUC is:

5C70 Volume depletion with mention of:

1A00-1A40.Z Gastroenteritis or colitis of infectious origin

code to: 1A00-1A40.Z

TUC is:

8B00-8B2Z Cerebrovascular diseases when reported as the cause of:

6D81 Dementia due to cerebrovascular disease

6D8Z Dementia, unknown or unspecified cause

code to: 6D81

TUC is:

BA40 Angina pectoris with mention of:

BA4Z Acute ischaemic heart disease,

BA41 Acute myocardial infarction
unspecified

BA42 Subsequent myocardial

BA50-BA5Z Chronic ischaemic heart disease
infarction

BA6Z Ischaemic heart diseases, unspecified code to: BA41

[Link] Codes not to be used for underlying cause of death
TUC is:

2D43 Malignant
neoplasms of
Not to be used for the underlying cause of death.
independent, multiple
primary sites

When multiple but independent malignant neoplasms are

reported on the death certificate, select the underlying cause
by applying the selection and modification rules in the normal
way. See also Section 2.22.5 Malignant neoplasms.

TUC is:

2D50-2E2Z Malignant
Not to be used for the underlying cause of death.
neoplasm metastases

Code to: 2D40-2D4Z Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or

MG20.0 Malignant
unspecified primary sites, if the primary site of malignant
cachexia
neoplasm is not known or indicated.

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TUC is:

5D40-5D46 Postprocedural endocrine or Not to be used for the underlying

metabolic disorders cause of death.

8E60-8E66 Postprocedural disorders of the

See Section
nervous system

9D20-9D25 Postprocedural disorders of eye or

ocular adnexa

AB90-AB93 Postprocedural disorders of ear or

mastoid process

BE10-BE1F.Z Postprocedural disorders of

circulatory system

CB60-CB64 Postprocedural disorders of the

respiratory system

DE10-DE12.Y Postprocedural disorders of

digestive system

FC01 Postprocedural disorders of the

musculoskeletal system

GC70-GC7B Postprocedural disorders of

genitourinary system

TUC is:

Not to be used for the

BA42 Subsequent myocardial infarction
underlying cause of death.

BA60 Certain current complications following acute

myocardial infarction Code to: BA41 Acute myocardial
infarction

TUC is:

BA43 Coronary thrombosis not Not to be used for the underlying cause of death.
resulting in myocardial For mortality, the occurrence of myocardial
infarction infarction is assumed.

Code to: BA41 Acute myocardial infarction

TUC is:

MA15.Y Other specified

microbiological findings in blood, Not to be used for the underlying cause of
blood-forming organs, or the immune death.
system

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TUC is:

Code to:

The originating infectious disease in Chapter 1

Certain infectious or parasitic diseases, or to
1G40 Sepsis without septic shock-1G41 Sepsis
with septic shock.

TUC is:

Extension codes (Chapter X) Not to be used for the underlying cause of death.

Code to: MH14

[Link] Codes not to be used if the underlying cause is known
TUC is:

6D70-6E0Z
Not to be used for the underlying cause of death, if the
Neurocognitive
underlying physical condition is known.
disorders

Code to: the underlying physical condition. The classification

indicates common underlying conditions for each category under
the ‘Has causing condition (code also)’ instruction.

2.21.4 Special instructions on surgery and other medical

procedures (Step M4)
[Link] Reason for the surgery or procedure stated
If the tentative underlying cause selected by applying Steps SP1 to SP8 and M1 to M3
is surgery or other medical procedure and the certificate states the reason for which the
operation or procedure was performed, then select the reason for the operation or
procedure as the new tentative underlying cause of death. Next, reapply the
instructions in Steps SP7 and M1 to M4.

[Link] Reason for the surgery or procedure not stated, complication

reported
If the reason for the surgery or procedure is not stated and a complication is reported,
proceed as described next.

a. Surgery indicates specific organ: First, if the type of surgery or procedure

indicates a specific organ or site, then use the code for the residual category for
the organ or site operated on as the new tentative underlying cause of death.
Next, reapply the instructions in Steps SP7 and M1 to M4.
b. If above does not apply, then use the appropriate code from:

 JB0C Complications of anaesthesia during labour or delivery

 JB0D.3 Other complications of obstetric surgery or procedures or
 PK80-PK8Z Surgical or other medical procedures associated with injury or harm
in diagnostic or therapeutic use

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 PL11 Mode of injury or harm associated with a surgical or other medical

procedure

When both PK80-PK8Z and PL11 applies, then code the mode of injury or harm (PL11)
first and add the type of surgery or procedure PK80 Medical or surgical procedure
associated with injury or harm in therapeutic use to the cluster.

[Link] Reason for the surgery or procedure not stated, no

complication reported
If the reason for the surgery or procedure is not stated and no complication is reported,
proceed as described next:

a. Surgery indicates specific organ: If the type of surgery or procedure indicates a

specific organ or site, then use the code for the residual category for the organ
or site operated on as the new starting point. Next, reapply the instructions in
Steps SP7 and M1 to M4.
b. Lastly, if above does not apply, code to MH14 Other ill-defined and unspecified
causes of mortality.

Example 1
1 (a) Pulmonary embolism

(b) Appendectomy

(c)

2
The certificate does not specify the reason for the surgery, but the term appendectomy
indicates appendix as the organ operated on. Code DB1Z Diseases of appendix,
unspecified as the underlying cause of death.

Example 2
1 (a) Unintentional puncture of aorta

(b) Laparotomy

(c)

2
The certificate does not specify the reason for the surgery and the term laparotomy
does not indicate a specific organ. However, there is a mention of a mode of injury at
the time of the surgery. Code the mode of injury, unintentional puncture during
laparotomy as the underlying cause of death PL11.0 Cut, puncture or tear as mode of
injury or harm.

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Example 3
1 (a) Postoperative haemorrhage

(b) Caesarean section

(c) Prolonged labour

2
The certificate states the reason why the surgery was performed. Code the reason for
the surgery, prolonged labour, as the underlying cause of death JB03.Z Long labour,
unspecified.

Example 4
1 (a) Laparotomy

(b)

(c)

2
The certificate does not specify why the surgery was performed and the term
laparotomy does not indicate a specific organ. There is no mention of a complication.
Code MH14 Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality, as the underlying
cause of death.

[Link] Medical devices associated with adverse incidents due to

external causes
If a death is caused by an incident involving a medical device, but the incident is due to
an external cause and not to any breakdown or malfunctioning of the device itself, code
the external cause as the underlying cause of death.

If the external cause of the incident is not specifically classified, code to PB6Z
Unspecified unintentional cause of morbidity or mortality (See example 3).

Example 1
1 (a) Inhalation pneumonia

(b) Haemorrhage of trachea

(c) Fell from bed while attached to respirator

2 Respiratory treatment following liver transplant

There is no mention of breakdown or malfunctioning of the respirator or the tracheal
tube. Code PL14.E Fall in health care, the accident that caused the haemorrhage, as
the underlying cause of death, and additional code, if desired, for XE8PK Bed, bedding
or bedding accessories.

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Example 2
1 (a) Pulmonary oedema

(b) Intra-aortic balloon pump stopped

(c) Power cut due to hurricane

(d) Recent myocardial infarction with mitral insufficiency

2
The balloon pump stopped working, not because of any malfunctioning or breakdown,
but because of a power cut. Code the reason of the power cut, cataclysmic storm, as
the underlying cause of death, PJ06.

Example 3
1 (a) Cardiac and respiratory failure

(b) Stopped administration of inotropic drugs

(c) Accidental removal of subclavian line

2 Surgery for acute rupture of gallbladder

There is no mention of malfunctioning or breakdown of equipment. Since the accident
that caused the removal of the subclavian line is not described, code to PB6Z
Unspecified unintentional cause of morbidity or mortality.

2.21.5 Special instructions on main injury in deaths from

external causes (Step M4)
If the underlying cause selected by applying the selection and modification rules in
Steps SP1 to SP8 and M1 to M3 is an external cause, code the external cause of the
injury as the underlying cause of death. For descriptions and coding instructions on
transport injury events, see also Section [Link] Descriptions related to transport
injury events.

In addition to the underlying cause from Chapter 23 ‘External causes of morbidity and
mortality’, also code a main injury. This applies to both body injuries and poisoning. For
special instructions on how to identify the underlying cause and main injury in
poisoning deaths, see Section 2.21.6 Special instructions on poisoning by drugs,
medications and biological substances (Step M4).

If more than one injury is reported on the death certificate, apply the following
instructions:

a. When the injuries reported include trivial injuries (those listed in Annex 2.23.9
List of conditions unlikely to cause death), whether in Part 1 or Part 2, select the
main injury as if the injuries in the list of Annex 2.23.9had not been reported.

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Example 1
1 (a) Contusion of arm and fracture of skull

(b) Fall from scaffolding

(c)

2
Fall from scaffolding is the underlying cause of death. Code underlying cause to PA61
Unintentional fall from a height of 1 metre or more and use additional code, if desired,
for the XE7RK Scaffolding. As main injury, code NA02.Z Fracture of skull and facial
bones, part unspecified. Disregard contusion of arm (Superficial injury of upper limb,
level unspecified), as it is in the Annex 2.23.9 List of conditions unlikely to cause death.

b. When non-trivial injuries are reported in both Part 1 and Part 2, select the main
injury from Part 1. This applies even when the injuries mentioned in Part 2 have
a higher rank in Annex , than the injuries mentioned in Part 1. –>

Example 2
1 (a) Multiple intrathoracic injuries

(b) Car driver, collision with bus

(c)

2 Brain injuries
Code to PA04 Unintentional land transport traffic event injuring a car occupant, and use
additional code, if desired, for XE5LJ Bus or coach as counterpart in land transport
crash. As main injury, code NB35 Multiple injuries of thorax. Unspecified brain injury
has a higher rank in Annex than multiple injuries of thorax, but multiple injuries of
thorax are mentioned in Part 1 and take precedence over the injuries mentioned in Part
2.

c. When non-trivial injuries are reported only in Part 2, select a main injury from
Part 2.
d. When more than one serious injury is reported in the relevant part of the
certificate, select the main injury according to Annex . Note that 1 is the highest
priority rank and that 6 the lowest.

Example 3
1 (a) Multiple intrathoracic injuries and brain injuries

(b) Car driver, collision with bus

(c)

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Code to PA04 Unintentional land transport traffic event injuring a car occupant as
underlying cause of death. As main injury, code brain injury NA07.Z Intracranial injury,
unspecified, which has a higher rank on the priority list than NB35 Multiple injuries of
thorax.

e. When more than one of the serious injuries reported in the relevant part of the
certificate have the same and highest rank, select the first mentioned of these
injuries. However, select a specific injury over an injury from the group ND30-
ND37 Injuries involving multiple body regions with the same priority rank.

Example 4
1 (a) Multiple injuries with rupture of aorta

(b) Car driver, collision with bus

(c)

2
Code to PA04 Unintentional land transport traffic event injuring a car occupant as
underlying cause of death. As main injury, code NB30.01 Major laceration of thoracic
aorta. Multiple injuries and rupture of aorta have the same rank on the priority list, but a
specific injury takes precedence over injury from the group Injuries involving multiple
body regions.

2.21.6 Special instructions on poisoning by drugs,

medications and biological substances (Step M4)
If poisoning is the tentative underlying cause in Step M4 and multiple substances are
reported, follow the instructions in this section.

[Link] The drug most likely to have caused death is specified

If one of the substances is specified as the substance most likely to have caused the
death, code the external cause code for that substance as the underlying cause of
death. Use additional code from Chapter X, if applicable, to identify the specific
substance reported, and add the main injury from Chapter 22 to the cluster.

Example 1
1 (a) Unintentional heroin overdose

(b)

(c)

2 Diazepam and amitriptyline present

By placing heroin overdose alone in Part 1 and reporting the other substances as
contributing causes of death in Part 2, the certifier has identified heroin as the
substance most likely to have caused the death. Select PB20 Unintentional exposure
to or harmful effects of opioids or related analgesics as underlying cause. Use

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additional code XM05B3 Heroin to identify the specific substance reported. And as
main injury add NE60 Harmful effects of drugs, medicaments or biological substances,
not elsewhere classified, NEC to the cluster. The cluster is PB20&XM05B3/NE60.

Example 2
1 (a) Poisoning by amphetamine

(b)

(c)

2 Toxic levels of heroin and flunitrazepam

By placing amphetamine poisoning alone in Part 1 and reporting the other substances
as contributing causes of death in Part 2, the certifier has identified amphetamine as
the substance most likely to have caused the death. Select PB22 Unintentional
exposure to or harmful effects of psychostimulants as underlying cause. Use additional
code XM48Z9 Amfetamine to identify the specific substance reported. And add NE60
Harmful effects of drugs, medicaments or biological substances, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster. The cluster is PB22&XM48Z9/NE60 Harmful effects of drugs,
medicaments or biological substances, not elsewhere classified.

Example 3
1 (a) Poisoning by alcohol

(b)

(c)

2 Toxic levels of heroin and flunitrazepam

By placing alcohol poisoning alone in Part 1 and reporting the other substances as
contributing causes of death in Part 2, the certifier has identified alcohol as the
substance most likely to have caused the death. Select PB30 Unintentional exposure
to or harmful effects of alcohols as underlying cause. And add NE61 Harmful effects of
or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster. The cluster is PB30/NE61 Harmful effects of or exposure to
noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere classified

Example 4
1 (a) Alcohol poisoning

(b)

(c)

2 Diazepam and amitriptyline present

By placing alcohol poisoning alone in Part 1 and reporting the other substances as
contributing causes of death in Part 2, the certifier has identified alcohol as the most
important substance in bringing about the death. Select PB30 Unintentional exposure
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to or harmful effects of alcohols as underlying cause. And add NE61 Harmful effects of
or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster.

[Link] The drug most likely to have caused death is not specified
If none of the substance is specified as the substance most likely to have caused the
death, follow the instructions next:

a. Code combinations of alcohol with a drug to the drug

Example 5
1 (a) Toxic levels of alcohol and flunitrazepam

(b)

(c)

2 Diazepam and amitriptyline present

By placing toxic levels of alcohol and flunitrazepam in Part 1 and reporting the other
substances as contributing causes of death in Part 2, the certifier has identified alcohol
and flunitrazepam as the most important substances in bringing about the death. Of
these two, select poisoning by flunitrazepam because combinations of alcohol with a
drug are coded to the drug. Select PB27 Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of
antiepileptics or antiparkinsonism drugs as underlying cause. Use additional code
XM9W71 Flunitrazepam to identify the specific substance reported. And add NE61
Harmful effects of or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to
source, not elsewhere classified, NEC.

b. Code combinations of multiple drugs, as follows:

 If the external cause of the multiple drugs reported is the same select that as the
underlying cause of death.
 If the external cause of the multiple drugs reported is not the same, code PB29
Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or
biological substances as the underlying cause of death.

Use additional code from Chapter X, if applicable, to identify the substance most likely
to have caused the death by referring to Section [Link] Identification of the drug most
likely to have caused death.

Note that when adding more than one drugs in optional use cases, the substance most
likely to have caused the death identified as above must be coded first.

Example 6
1 (a) Toxic levels of heroin and amphetamine

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Example 6
(b)

(c)

2
Neither heroin nor amphetamine are identified as the substance most likely to have
caused the death and the external cause of these drugs are not the same. Code to
PB29 Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or
biological substances as the underlying cause of death. Go to Section [Link] to
identify the drug most likely to have caused the death.

Example 7
1 (a) Unintentional poisoning by alcohol, heroin, and diazepam

(b)

(c)

2
None of the substances is identified as the substance most likely to have caused the
death. Poisoning by combinations of alcohol and drugs are coded to the drugs.
Because none of the drugs is identified as most important, and the external cause code
is different, code to PB29 Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple
drugs, medicaments or biological substances as the underlying cause of death. And go
to Section [Link] to identify the substance most likely to have caused the death.

[Link] Identification of the drug most likely to have caused death

Use the priority order below to identify the substance most likely to have caused the
death (1 = highest priority):

1. Opioid agonists and partial agonists and other and unspecified narcotics. Deaths
that include multiple opioids classifiable should be prioritised as:
o 1a. Heroin
o 1b. Methadone
o 1c. Opium
o 1d. Other opioids
o 1e. Other synthetic narcotics
o 1f. Other and unspecified narcotics
2. Inhaled and intravenous anaesthetic agents, Includes: Propofol
3. Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants
4. Barbiturates
5. 4-Aminophenolderivatives Includes: APAP, acetaminophen, paracetamol
6. Antipsychotics and neuroleptics Includes: Phenothiazine antipsychotics and
neuroleptics, Butyrophenone and thioxanthene neuroleptics, Other and
unspecified antipsychotics and neuroleptics
7. Antiepileptic drugs, antiparkinsonism drugs and unspecified sedatives
8. Cocaine

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9. Psychostimulants with abuse potential Includes: Amphetamines and derivatives

10. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) antidepressants and other and unspecified
antidepressants Includes: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
venlafaxine
11. Benzodiazepines
12. Drugs and substances not listed above

If there is more than one drug in the same priority group, code to the first mentioned.

Example 8
1 (a) Toxic levels of cocaine, heroin, diazepam, and amitriptyline

(b)

(c)

2
None of the drugs is identified as the substance most likely to have caused the death,
and the external cause code is not the same for these substances. Code to PB29
Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or
biological substances as the underlying cause of death. On the priority list above,
cocaine is in group 8, heroin is in group 1a, diazepam is in group 11 and amitriptyline is
in group 3. Use additional code XM05B3 Heroin for the drug identified (PB29
Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or
biological substances&XM05B3). Add codes, if desired, from Chapter X to list other
drugs reported. Finally, add NE61 Harmful effects of or exposure to noxious
substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere classified, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster (PB29&XM05B3/NE61).

Example 9
1 (a) Heroin, cocaine, diazepam and amitriptyline overdose

(b)

(c)

2
None of the drugs is identified as the substance most likely to have caused the death,
and the external cause code is not the same for these substances. Code to PB29
Unintentional exposure to or harmful effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or
biological substances as the underlying cause of death. On the priority list above,
heroin is in group 1a, cocaine is in group 8, diazepam is in group 11 and amitriptyline is
in group 10. Use additional code XM05B3 Heroin for the drug identified. Add codes, if
desired, from Chapter X to list other drugs reported. Finally, add NE61 Harmful effects
of or exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster.

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Example 10
1 (a) Unintentional poisoning by alcohol, heroin and diazepam

(b)

(c)

2
Poisoning by combinations of alcohol and drug(s) is coded to the drug(s), see
instruction in Section [Link], above. None of the drugs reported in Part 1 is identified
as the substance most likely to have caused the death, and the external cause code is
not the same for these substances. Code to PB29 Unintentional exposure to or harmful
effects of multiple drugs, medicaments or biological substances as the underlying
cause of death. On the priority list above, heroin is in group 1a and diazepam is in
group 11. Use additional code XM05B3 Heroin identified as most likely to have caused
death. Add code XM8P99 Diazepam, if desired. Finally, add NE61 Harmful effects of or
exposure to noxious substances, chiefly nonmedicinal as to source, not elsewhere
classified to the cluster. PB29&XM05B3&XM8P99/NE61.

2.21.7 Special instructions on maternal mortality (Step M4)

If pregnancy, childbirth, or puerperium is mentioned anywhere on the certificate, in
most cases the underlying cause is coded to Chapter 18, Pregnancy, childbirth or the
puerperium. This is either because the underlying cause selected by applying Steps
SP1 to SP8 and M1 to M3 is classified to Chapter 18 according to the coding tool, or
because there is a special code in Chapter 18 for the condition if it appears during
pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium.

Apply the following instructions to determine whether an underlying cause that is

indexed to other parts of the ICD should be classified to Chapter 18. Note that these
instructions do not apply to conditions that are indexed to Chapter 18.

If pregnancy, childbirth or puerperium is reported anywhere on the certificate but it is

not clearly stated that pregnancy, childbirth or puerperium contributed to the death, first
contact the certifier and ask for further information.

 If the certifier states that the death was a complication of pregnancy, childbirth or
puerperium, code the underlying cause to Chapter 18, Pregnancy, childbirth or
the puerperium.
 If the certifier states that the death was not a complication of pregnancy,
childbirth or puerperium, do not code the underlying cause to Chapter 18.
 If you cannot obtain any additional information, but pregnancy, childbirth or
puerperium is mentioned in Part 1 or Part 2 of the certificate, code the
underlying cause to Chapter 18.

If the underlying cause you selected is classifiable to ‘Maternal infectious and parasitic
diseases, classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the
puerperium and Other maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating
pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium’, then add to the cluster the corresponding

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code from Chapter 01-19 as a multiple cause of death. This is important because
otherwise relevant information on the death will not be retrievable.

Note that some conditions are not coded to Chapter 18, even if they occurred during
pregnancy, childbirth or puerperium, see the ‘Excludes’ note at the beginning of
Chapter 18.

Example 1
1 (a) Amniotic fluid embolism

(b)

(c)

2
The underlying cause, Amniotic fluid embolism, is indexed to Chapter 18 JB42.1.

Example 2
1 (a) Pulmonary oedema

(b) Mitral regurgitation, pregnancy

(c)

2
The underlying cause, mitral regurgitation, is coded to Chapter 18 because pregnancy
is mentioned in Part 1. Code the underlying cause to JB64.4 Diseases of the circulatory
system complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium. For greater specificity,
also add the code for BB61.Z Mitral valve insufficiency, unspecified to the cluster.

Example 3
1 (a) Haemorrhage

(b) Cervical cancer

(c)

2 Treatment delayed because of pregnancy

The underlying cause, cervical cancer, is coded to Chapter 18 because pregnancy is
mentioned in Part 2. Code the underlying cause to JB64.Y Other specified maternal
diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the
puerperium. For greater specificity, also add the code 2C77.Z Malignant neoplasms of
cervix uteri, unspecified to the cluster.

Example 4
1 (a) Hepatic failure

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Example 4
(b) Dengue haemorrhagic fever 5 days

(c)

2 Additional information: 40 days postpartum

Code the underlying cause to JB63.5 Other viral diseases complicating pregnancy,
childbirth or the puerperium. For greater specificity, also add the code for 1D20 Dengue
without warning signs to the cluster.

2.22 Coding instructions for mortality:

multiple cause coding and other specific
instructions
Multiple cause coding permits in-depth analysis of causes of death, for example of
serious but avoidable complications of certain underlying causes, and the impact of
coexisting conditions on the outcome of a disease process. Therefore, in mortality
coding, both underlying cause and multiple causes should be recorded. Also, complete
multiple cause coding is essential for a correct application of the ICD instructions for
selection and modification of the underlying cause of death (see Sections 2.20 - 2.22).

All possible detail should be retained in the multiple cause coding, since records
containing all multiple cause conditions permit more thorough analysis than records
with only a selection of the conditions reported on the certificate. In particular:

 the position of the individual codes in the data record should reflect where on the
certificate the corresponding diagnostic expressions were entered by the
certifier, because some analyses may focus on the terminal cause of death, or
on conditions reported in Part 2
 codes for common conditions, or for conditions regarded as symptomatic or less
informative, should not be deleted or left out, since they may be of special
interest in analysis of avoidable complications and may serve as markers of the
seriousness of other conditions reported on the certificate;
 multiple cause data should be stored in two formats:
1. one format that shows as clearly as possible which term the certifier used
on the certificate and where on the certificate each term was reported
2. one format that takes the stated or implied relationships between the
reported conditions into consideration, and where the codes have been
harmonised according to the instructions in the ICD volumes.
Note that the syntax of a code string to retain ICD codes provided in a death certificate
should be distinguishable from the syntax used for cluster coding in ICD (i.e. forward
slash (/), ampersand (&)), while the specific syntax may differ according to different
settings. Such code string could be for example, BD10Z|BA5Z*5A11/9B710Z, where a
vertical bar (|) expresses the separator between lines in Part 1, and an asterisk
expresses the separator between Part 1 and Part 2, and the forward-slash (/) shows
the cluster as a separator between stems following the convention of ICD.

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2.22.1 Uncertain diagnosis

Ignore expressions indicating doubt as to the certainty of the diagnosis, for example
‘apparently’, ‘presumably’, ‘probably’ or ‘possibly’. A tentative diagnosis, although
uncertain, is of better use to mortality statistics than no diagnosis at all.

[Link] Either … or
The certifier might report alternative diagnoses, ‘either diagnosis A or diagnosis B’. In
such cases, proceed as follows.

[Link] One condition, either one site or another

a. If the sites are in the same anatomical system, code to the residual category for
the group or anatomical system in which the reported sites are classified.

Example 1
1 (a) Cancer of kidney or bladder

(b)

(c)

2
Code as 2C9Z Malignant neoplasms of urinary tract, unspecified.

b. If the reported sites are in different anatomical systems, or if there is no residual

category for the group or anatomical system, code to the residual category for
the disease or condition specified.

Example 2
1 (a) Cancer of adrenal gland or kidney

(b)

(c)

2
Code as 2D42 Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined sites, since adrenal gland and kidney
are in different anatomical systems.

[Link] One site or system, either one condition or another condition

a. If the reported conditions are classifiable to different subcategories, and ICD
provides a group or category for the disease in general, code to the residual
category of this group/category.

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Example
1
Sigmoid volvulus DB30.1 or adhesions of large intestine with
1 (a)
obstruction DB30.2

(b)

(c)

2
Code as DB30.Z Obstruction of large intestine, unspecified.

Example
2
Dissection of cerebral arteries 8B22.0 or cerebral infarction
1 (a)
8B11.5Z

(b)

(c)

2
Code as 8B2Z Cerebrovascular diseases, unspecified.

b. If there is no group or category for the disease in general, code to the residual
category of the disease of the anatomical site/system common to the reported
conditions.

Example 3
1 (a) Tuberculosis or cancer of lung

(b)

(c)

2
Code as CB40.Y Other specified diseases of the respiratory system. Both conditions
involve the lung.

Example 4
1 (a) Stroke or heart attack

(b)

(c)

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Example 4
2
Code as BE2Z Diseases of the circulatory system, unspecified. Although stroke is
classified to the nervous system chapter, both conditions are diseases of the circulatory
system.

[Link] Either one condition or another, different anatomical systems

When different diseases of different anatomical systems are reported as ‘either … or’,
code to MG9Y Other specified general symptoms, signs or clinical findings. .

Example 1
1 (a) Gallbladder colic or coronary thrombosis

(b)

(c)

2
Code as MG9Y Other specified general symptoms, signs or clinical findings.

[Link] Either disease or injury

When death is reported as due to either a disease or an injury, code to MH14 Other ill-
defined and unspecified causes of mortality.

Example 1
1 (a) Coronary occlusion or war injuries

(b)

(c)

2
Code as MH14 Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality.

2.22.2 Effect of connecting terms

When the certifier uses a connecting term, the codes assigned must be arranged to
reflect the certifier intention. There are two types of connecting terms: those implying a
causal relationship, and those not implying a causal relationship between reported
causes of death.

[Link] Connecting terms implying a causal relationship

A causal relationship can be expressed in two ways: ‘due to’ written or implied by a
similar term; or ‘resulting in’ written or implied by a similar term.

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When one cause is certified with a connecting term implying it is due to another cause,
enter the code for the first cause on the line where reported and the code for the other
cause on the next lower line. Code any causes reported on the remaining lines in Part
1 on the next lower lines.

Example 1
1 (a) Heart failure due to ischaemic heart disease

(b) Diabetes

(c)

2
Heart failure is the first cause on line (a), so code it to line (a). It is reported as due to
ischaemic heart disease, so code ischaemic heart disease to line (b). Move diabetes,
which is written on line (b), to line (c).

Example 2
1 (a) Heart failure due to hepatocellular carcinoma

(b) Ischaemic heart disease

(c) Diabetes

2
Heart failure is the first cause on line (a), so code it to line (a). It is reported as due to
hepatocellular carcinoma, so code hepatocellular carcinoma to line (b). Move
ischaemic heart disease, which is reported on line (b), to line (c). Also move diabetes,
which is reported on line (c), to line (d). This applies to other connecting terms or signs
that indicate a ‘due to’ relationship, such as ‘caused by’, ‘because of’, or similar.

When one cause is certified with a connecting term implying it resulted in another
cause, enter the code for the cause following the connecting term on the line where
reported, and the code for the cause preceding the connecting term on the next lower
line. Code any causes reported on the remaining lines in Part 1 on the next lower lines.

Example 1
1 (a) Ischaemic heart disease resulting in heart failure

(b) Diabetes

(c)

2
Code heart failure, which follows the connecting term ‘resulting in’, on line (a). Code
ischaemic heart disease, which is reported before the connecting term, on line (b).
Move diabetes, reported on line (b), one line down and code it on line (c).

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Example 2
1 (a) Hepatocellular carcinoma causing heart failure

(b) Ischaemic heart disease

(c) Diabetes

2
Code heart failure reported after the connecting term ‘causing’, on line (a). Code
hepatocellular carcinoma, which is reported before the connecting term, on line (b).
Move ischaemic heart disease, reported on line (b), to line (c), and move diabetes,
which is reported on line (c), to line (d). This applies to other connecting terms or signs
that indicate a ‘resulting in’ relationship, such as ‘causing’, ‘leading to’, ‘developing
into’, and similar.

[Link] Connecting terms not implying a causal relationship

The connecting term ‘and’ does not imply a causal relationship, but it indicates that the
terms before and after it should be counted. Therefore, when a line ends with ‘and’,
code the cause(s) mentioned on the line immediately below for this line, so that the
coding reflects the enumeration implied by the connecting term. Similarly, when a line
starts with ‘and’, consider this as a continuation of an enumeration starting on the line
above, and code the cause or causes on that line last on the line above. Code any
causes reported on the remaining lines in Part 1 where reported. This applies to other
connecting terms or signs that indicate an enumeration but do not imply a causal
relationship, such as ‘also’, ‘plus’, ‘besides’, ‘in addition’, ‘+’ or comma.

Example 1
1 (a) Heart failure and

(b) Ischaemic heart disease

(c) Diabetes

2
Line 1(a) ends with ‘and’, so consider ‘ischaemic heart disease’, reported on line (b) as
a part of the enumeration ‘heart failure and ischaemic heart disease’. Code accordingly
and place the codes for both heart failure and ischaemic heart disease on line 1(a).
Code diabetes on line (b).

Example 2
1 (a) Heart failure

(b) Ischaemic heart disease

(c) and diabetes

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Line 1(c) starts with ‘and’. Consider diabetes, reported on line (c), as a part of the
enumeration ‘ischaemic heart disease and diabetes’. Code accordingly, and place the
codes for both ischaemic heart disease and diabetes on line 1(b).

If a connecting term that does not imply a causal relationship is written on a line but not
first or last, then treat is as a comma. Do not reformat the text and do not move any
part of the causes to another line.

If a diagnostic term starts on one line in Part 1 and continues on the next line, code as
if the entire diagnostic term had been written on the line where the diagnostic term
starts. Code any causes reported on the remaining lines in Part 1 where reported.

Example 1
1 (a) Ischaemic

(b) Heart disease

(c) Diabetes type 2

2
‘Ischaemic heart disease’ is a diagnostic term reported on two lines. Code as if the
complete term had been written on line (a). Code diabetes where it is reported, on line
(c).

Example 2
1 (a) Pneumonia

(b) Chronic kidney

(c) disease, diabetes type 2

2
‘Chronic kidney disease’ is a diagnostic term reported on two lines. Reformat the
certificate and code the complete term ‘chronic kidney disease’ on line (b). Also code
diabetes on line (b), since it continues the line where ‘chronic kidney’ has been written.

2.22.3 Duration
[Link] Single duration for multiple conditions
When more than one condition is reported in the same line with only one duration,
consider that each condition reported had the same duration.

[Link] Modifying temporality of conditions by duration

Duration should not usually be used to qualify a condition as acute or chronic unless
the Indexed Term provides specific duration or it is otherwise instructed in the
reference guide (e.g. Section [Link] Acute or chronic rheumatic heart diseases).
Note that the Description in the classification is not to be used for coding
(Section [Link]).

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2.22.4 ‘Code also’ instructions in mortality use case

Generally, the ‘code also’ instruction (see also Section 2.3 ‘Code also’ and ‘Use
additional code, if desired’ instructions) is not used in in multiple cause coding since the
information on aetiology is provided as a stand-alone expression separately on the
death certificate and will be coded on its own, or is not provided at all.

Apply the ‘Code also’ instruction when both information on the manifestation and the
aetiology appear in a single diagnostic term reported by the certifier, and information on
the aetiology is not reported separately. Whenever applying the ‘code also’ instruction,
put the code for the aetiology at the beginning of the cluster and add the code for the
manifestation.

Example 1: Heart failure > BD10-BD1Z Heart failure has an instruction to ‘Code also’
the causing condition. However, in the diagnostic term reported by the certifier no
information is given on such causing condition. Do not apply the ‘Code also’ instruction.

Example 2: Type 1 diabetic acidosis > 5A22 Diabetic acidosis has an instruction to
‘Code also’ the causing condition. The causing condition is reported, which in this case
is 5A10 Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aetiological condition Type 1 diabetes mellitus is
considered the code for primary tabulation and is coded first (5A10 Type 1 diabetes
mellitus/5A22 Diabetic acidosis.

Example 3: Salmonella Sepsis > Salmonella sepsis is an index term of 1G40 Sepsis
without septic shock which has an instruction to ‘Code also’ the causing condition
supplemented by a coding note to code the type of infection first. The type of infection
in this case is 1A09 Infections due to other Salmonella and is coded first (1A09/1G40).

2.22.5 Malignant neoplasms

The broad structure of Chapter 02 Neoplasms is as followings:

 Neoplasms of brain or central nervous system (2A00-2A0Z)

N.
 Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid tissues (2A20-)
 Neoplasms, except of lymphoid, haematopoietic, central nervous system or
related tissues (2B50-2F9Z)

To assign the correct multiple cause code for a neoplasm, you must first determine
behaviour (malignant, in situ, benign, uncertain or unknown) for each of the neoplasms
reported on the death certificate. For malignant neoplasms, you must also determine
whether to code them as primary or secondary. To that end, apply the instructions that
follow.

In the examples in this section, ICD codes are provided to the right of the death
certificate. These codes represent the multiple cause codes assigned to each entry.
These multiple cause codes could be different from a code assigned when the given
diagnostic entry was reported alone on the certificate (direct coding). In such case, the
code for direct coding is given in the square brackets ‘[ ]’ next to the diagnostic
expression. The explanation for each example describes that the codes in brackets will
be modified by other information on the certificate (application of multiple cause coding)
and to code to the multiple cause code indicated to the right.

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[Link] Behaviour: malignant, in situ, benign or uncertain or unknown

behaviour
The behavior of conditions indexed to Neoplasms of brain or central nervous system
(2A00-2A0Z) except for 2A02.3 Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves and 2A02.4 Benign
neoplasm of spinal cord, and 2A20-2B3Z Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid
tissues is presumed to be malignant.

Neoplasms, except of 2B50-2F9Z Neoplasms of unknown behaviour of unspecified

site) is classified by the following types of behavior:

 Malignant - the neoplasm invades surrounding tissue or disseminates from its

point of origin and begins to grow at another site;
 In situ - the neoplasm is malignant but still fully confined to the tissue in which it
originated;
 Benign - the neoplasm grows in the place of origin without the potential for
spread;
 Uncertain behaviour - A neoplasm displaying morphologic, phenotypic, or
genotypic characteristics that are clearly not benign but do not permit the
establishment of a definitive diagnosis of malignancy
 Unknown behaviour - it is unknown whether the neoplasm is benign or
malignant.

Determine which code group to use as follows:

Look in the ICD coding tool for the term used on the certificate to describe the
neoplasm. If both morphology and location are stated, enter both into the coding tool. If
the morphology is not stated code by site and behaviour.

Note that ‘neoplasms nos’ and ‘tumour nos’ should initially be considered as unknown
behavior in order to retain the information of behavior as reported, even if the coding
tool guides you to malignant or other behavior. Decide the behavior following the
instructions in this Section.

If the term used on the certificate does not indicate a specific behaviour, then look for
other information indicating behaviour. Code a neoplasm of unspecified behaviour, a
neoplasm described as ‘in situ’ or growths that are not indexed to Chapter II (for
example, certain polyps), as malignant if:

 it is reported as the cause of secondary spread (terms such as infiltration,

metastases, secondaries or similar) or of cachexia
 it is reported on the same line as and next to a mention of secondary spread
 all other neoplasms are specified as secondary spread
 there is no mention of another neoplasm site but there are other indications of
malignancy reported anywhere on the certificate (for example, carcinosis,
malignant cachexia, malignant transformation)
 it is reported as due to a malignant neoplasm. To decide whether it is primary or
secondary, see the instructions in Section [Link] Malignant neoplasms:
primary or secondary?.

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Example 1
1 (a) Colon tumour 2F90 with liver metastases 2B90.Z, 2D80.0

(b)

(c)

2
The colon tumour is reported on the same line as, and next to liver metastases and is
considered malignant. Code the colon tumour as primary cancer 2F90.

If a tumour is indexed to the Chapter 02 section for benign neoplasm but is reported as
the cause of metastases or infiltration, check in the coding tool and in the tabular list
whether there is a code for a malignant variety. If so, code it as malignant.

If there is no code for a malignant variety, first try to obtain clarification from the
certifier. If no further information is available, then accept the statement on the
certificate and use the code for benign tumour.

If there is no indication of malignancy, code as unknown behaviour.

[Link] Malignant neoplasms: primary or secondary?

If the neoplasm is coded to malignant neoplasms, next decide whether it is primary or
secondary.

The primary site is the anatomical location where the malignant neoplasm originated. A
malignant neoplasm may spread to other parts of the body, and these sites are referred
to as secondary or metastases. It is most important to determine the primary site.
When the death certificate is ambiguous as to the primary site, every effort should be
made to obtain clarification from the certifier. The instructions that follow should be
applied only when clarification cannot be obtained. The ICD provides the following
blocks for primary malignant neoplasms:

 Malignant neoplasms in Neoplasms of brain or central nervous system (2A00-

2A0Z)
 Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid tissues (2A20-2B3Z)
 Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary, of specified sites,
except of lymphoid, haematopoietic, central nervous system or related tissues
(2B50-2D3Z)
 Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified primary sites (2D40-2D4Z)

For secondary malignant neoplasms, the ICD provides the block:

 2D50 Malignant neoplasm metastasis in brain-2D50-2E2Z

Malignant neoplasm metastases
For malignant neoplasms of unspecified site not stated or presumed to be primary or
secondary, the ICD code is 2D4Z.

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Sometimes malignant neoplasms are described as ‘metastatic’, which might refer either
to a primary malignant neoplasm that metastasizes to another site, or to secondary
malignant neoplasms originating somewhere else. For instructions on how to code
neoplasms described as ‘metastatic’, see Section [Link] ‘Metastatic’ cancer.

When choosing between codes for primary and secondary malignant neoplasms, refer
to the following list of common sites of metastases:

 bone
 brain
 diaphragm
 ill-defined site
 liver
 lung
 lymph nodes
 mediastinum
 meninges
 peritoneum
 pleura
 retroperitoneum
 spinal cord

See below for further instructions on how to code neoplasms of sites on this list.

If the certifier describes a malignant neoplasm as ‘primary’, ‘primary in’, ‘originating in’,
or with similar terms, then use a code for primary malignant neoplasm (listed above).
Use the coding tool to find the appropriate code.

Also code a malignant neoplasm as primary, although not described as primary by the
certifier, if:

 all other malignant neoplasms on the certificate are described as secondary or

as metastases. This applies whether the site not specified as secondary or as
metastasis is on the list of common sites of metastases or not. See also
Example 1 below.
 it is in the code range 2A20 Non mast cell myeloproliferative neoplasms-2B3Z
Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid tissues, unspecified:
o A primary neoplasm of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues may occur
simultaneously together with another primary neoplasm in the same
range. Code all malignant neoplasms classifiable to Neoplasms of
haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues as primary, unless the certifier
specifies them as secondary;
 the site is not on the list of common sites of metastases.

If the site is on the list of common sites of metastases, code the malignant neoplasm as
primary if:

 the morphology indicates that it is primary of the reported site;

 it is described as caused by a known risk factor for malignant neoplasms of the
stated site (To determine if the condition reported as causing the neoplasm is a

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known risk factor, check if it is mentioned as a risk factor of the site involved in
textbooks or other reliable sources);
 it is the only malignant neoplasm mentioned on the death certificate, and it is not
described as ‘metastatic’:
o exception: code malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes as secondary, even
if it is the only reported neoplasm on the certificate, unless it is stated that
the lymph node neoplasm is primary; note: if the only malignant neoplasm
reported on the certificate is malignant neoplasm of liver, and it is not
specified as either primary or secondary, then use the code 2C12.02,
Malignant neoplasm of liver, unspecified;
o it is malignant neoplasm of lung, and all other malignant neoplasms
mentioned on the certificate are on the list of common sites of metastases
– code lung as secondary if another malignant neoplasm is reported in
the same part of the certificate (Part 1 or Part 2 of frame A) and this other
malignant neoplasm is coded as a primary malignant neoplasm. – it is
malignant neoplasm of lung specified as bronchogenic or of bronchus.

Code a neoplasm that is not indexed as malignant as primary malignant if it is reported

as causing secondary or metastatic spread and a code for a malignant variety of the
neoplasm is available.

Exceptions are listed next:

 Exception: If durations are stated, the secondary neoplasms must not have a
longer duration than the presumed primary malignant neoplasm.
 Exception: If morphologies are stated, the secondary and presumed primary
malignant neoplasms must have the same morphology.
 Exception: If a neoplasm that would not be coded as malignant is reported as
the cause of another neoplasm that would not be coded as malignant, then code
both neoplasms according to the coding tool. Do not assume malignancy or
metastatic spread.

Example 1
1 (a) Brain metastasis 2D50

(b) Lung tumour 2F91.1 2C25.Z

(c)

2
The lung tumour has caused metastatic spread and is considered malignant. It is also
considered primary, since the other site mentioned (brain) is a metastasis. Code the
lung tumour as primary of lung 2C25.Z.

Example 2
1 (a) Cancer of pancreas 2C10.Z

(b) Cancer of stomach 2B72.Z

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Example 2
(c)

2
Pancreas and stomach are not on the list of common sites of metastases. Code both
cancers as primary - pancreas 2C10.Z, stomach 2B72.Z.

Example 3
1 (a) Cancer of liver 2C12.02 2D70 and lung 2C25.Z

(b) Chronic hepatitis DB97.2

(c)

2
Chronic hepatitis increases the risk of primary liver cancer. Therefore, consider the liver
cancer primary and code to 2C12.02. Do not use the code for Secondary malignancy of
liver. Code the lung cancer as Secondary 2D70, because the only other malignant
neoplasm on the certificate is primary.

Example 4
1 (a) Kidney cancer 2C90 and lung cancer 2C25.Z

(b)

(c)

2
Code the kidney cancer as primary 2C90.Z since it is not on the list of common sites of
metastases. Code lung cancer as secondary 2D70 since it is reported in the same part
of the certificate as the kidney cancer and the kidney cancer is considered primary.

Example 5
1 (a) Lung cancer 2C25.Z

(b)

(c)

2 Kidney cancer 2C90.Z

Code the lung cancer as primary 2C25.Z. There is no other primary malignant
neoplasm in the same part of the certificate as where lung cancer is reported, and the
code for lung cancer is not influenced by neoplasms mentioned in another part of the
certificate. Code the kidney cancer as primary 2C90, since it is not on the list of
common sites of metastases.

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Example 6
1 (a) Liver tumour 2F90.Y 2C12.02

(b)

(c)

2 Lung tumour 2D70, probably secondary

Consider both tumours as malignant, since the certifier described one of the two as
secondary, which is evidence of malignant behaviour. Code the liver tumour as
primary, since the other malignant neoplasm on the certificate is described as
secondary. The qualification ‘probably’ is ignored; see Section 2.22.1 Uncertain
diagnosis.

Example 7
1 (a) Metastatic involvement of chest wall 2E0Y

(b) Carcinoma in situ of breast 2E65.Z 2C6Z

(c)

2
Code the carcinoma in situ of breast as primary malignant neoplasm of breast (2C6Z ).
Since the breast tumour has spread to the chest wall it is no longer in situ.

Example 8
1 (a) Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung 2D70 and brain 2D50

(b) Polyp of stomach DA44.Z

(c)

2
Code the polyp as primary malignant neoplasm of stomach 2B72.Z. Since the polyp is
reported as the cause of secondary spread, it is considered malignant.

Example 9
1 (a) Brain cancer 2A00.5

(b)

(c)

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Brain is on the list of common sites of metastases, but in this case, it is the only
malignant neoplasm mentioned on the certificate. Use the code for primary Malignant
neoplasm of brain 2A00.5.

Example 10
1 (a) Cancer of cervical lymph nodes 2D60.0

(b)

(c)

2
Code the cancer of cervical lymph nodes as secondary 2D60.0. It is considered
secondary to an unspecified primary malignant neoplasm unless it is specified as
primary.

Example 11
1 (a) Cancer primary in prostate 2C82.Z

(b)

(c)

2
The cancer is described as primary in prostate. Code it to the group of primary
malignant neoplasms 2C82.Z.

Example 12
1 (a) Bladder tumour 2F98

(b) Lung tumour 2F91.1

(c)

2
None of the tumours is specified as malignant or benign. Therefore, do not assume
malignancy or metastatic spread. Use codes from the block of Neoplasms of uncertain
or unknown behaviour, 2F98 (bladder) and 2F91.1 (trachea, bronchus and lung).

If the certifier describes a neoplasm as secondary, then code to the appropriate

subcategory in ‘Malignant neoplasms metastases’.

If a malignant neoplasm is not described as primary or secondary but the morphology

is stated, first look up the morphology in the extension codes using the coding tool. If
the morphology is incompatible with the stated site of the neoplasm (i.e. the neoplasm
cannot be primary of the stated site according to textbooks and other reference
literature), then assign a code for a malignant neoplasm of unspecified site for the
morphology indicated.
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Code a malignant neoplasm as secondary if the neoplasm is:

 specified as secondary by the certifier;

 unspecified whether primary or secondary, and the site is on the list of common
sites of metastases:
o exception: if there is only one malignant neoplasm mentioned and the site
is on the list of common sites of metastases, then code the neoplasm as
primary although it is on the list of common sites of metastases. This
does not apply to lymph nodes, which are always coded as secondary.
See also Section [Link] Malignant neoplasms: primary or secondary?,
subsection (b), Other indication of primary malignant neoplasm;
o exception: code lung as primary, if all other sites in the same part of the
certificate (Part 1 or Part 2) are on the list of common sites of metastases.
However, code lung as secondary if the morphology indicates that a
neoplasm of a common site of metastases, reported in the same part of
the certificate, is primary of the reported site, or it is described as caused
by a known risk factor for malignant neoplasms of the reported site;
o exception: code a malignant neoplasm on the list of common sites of
metastases as primary, if all other malignant neoplasms on the certificate
are specified as secondary or as metastases. This applies whether these
other malignant neoplasms are on the list of common sites of metastases
or not. See also Example 6
o exception: code a malignant neoplasm on the list of common sites of
metastases as primary, if the morphology is stated and is compatible with
the site. (To determine if a stated morphology is compatible with the site,
refer to textbooks or other reliable sources);
 unspecified whether primary or secondary, and the certifier states that the
cancer is primary in another site. This applies whether the site is on the list of
common sites of metastases or not: – regardless of site, do not code a
neoplasm as secondary if it is of a different morphology from another neoplasm
stated to be primary. See also Section [Link] More than one primary
malignant neoplasm;
 unspecified whether malignant, in situ or benign, and it is reported as due to a
malignant neoplasm:
o exception: if durations are stated, do not code the unspecified neoplasm
as secondary if it has a duration that is longer than the durations of the
malignant neoplasm reported as the cause of the unspecified neoplasm
 the morphology indicates that the neoplasm cannot be primary of the stated site.
In that case, use both the default code for a primary neoplasm of the
morphology involved and a code for a secondary malignant neoplasm of the
stated site.

Do not use order of entry to determine whether a neoplasm specified as malignant is

primary or secondary. Code a malignant neoplasm reported as due to another
malignant neoplasm as secondary only if it is described as secondary, metastatic
spread or similar, or if it is on the list of common sites of metastases.

Do not confuse ‘primary’ with ‘primary in’. Whereas ‘primary in’ identifies one of several
malignant tumours of the same or unspecified morphology as the primary tumour,
‘primary’ simply means that the malignant neoplasm was not secondary. It does not

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necessarily mean that all other malignant neoplasms mentioned on the certificate were
secondary.

If the certificate states that the primary site was unknown, then code all neoplasm sites
mentioned on the certificate as secondary.

Example 1
1 (a) Carcinoma of adrenal glands 2D11.Z 2E07

(b)

(c)

2 Primary in kidney 2C90.Z

The malignant neoplasm of adrenal glands is considered secondary since the
certificate states that the cancer was primary in kidney. Code the adrenal carcinoma as
secondary 2E07 and the primary in kidney as primary 2C90.Z.

Example 2
1 (a) Prostate cancers 2C82.Z 2E06

(b) Primary site unknown

(c)

2
The primary site is described as unknown - code to 2D4Z Unspecified malignant
neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified sites. Code prostate cancer as secondary 2E06
since the primary malignant neoplasm clearly was in another site.

Example 3
1 (a) Brain tumour 2F9Y 2D50

(b) Breast cancer

(c)

2
The brain tumour is considered malignant, since it is reported as due to breast cancer.
Also, it is considered secondary, since it is on the list of common sites of metastases.
Code the brain tumour as secondary malignant 2D50. Code the breast cancer as
Primary 2C6Z.

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Example 4
1 (a) Brain tumour 2D50 2F9Y

(b) Lung cancer 2C25.Z

(c)

2
The brain tumour is considered malignant, since it is reported as due to lung cancer.
Also, it is considered secondary, since it is on the list of common sites of metastases
and reported together with lung cancer. Code the brain tumour as secondary malignant
2D50. Code the lung cancer as primary 2C25.Z, since the only other reported
neoplasm is on the list of common sites of metastases.

Example 5
1 (a) Cancer growth in liver 2C12.02 and lymph nodes 2D80.0 2D6Z

(b)

(c)

2 Malignant neoplasm of stomach 2B72.Z

The cancer growth in liver and lymph nodes is considered secondary, since they are
both on the list of common sites of metastases. Code as secondary malignant
neoplasm of liver 2D80.0 and lymph node 2D6Z, and as primary the stomach 2B72.Z.

Example
6
Cancer of lung, pleura 2C26.Z and chest wall 2D4Z 2C25.Z 2D72
1 (a)
2E0Y

(b)

(c)

2
Code the cancer of lung as primary 2C25.Z, since the other sites mentioned on the
certificate, pleura and chest wall, are on the list of common sites of metastases. Code
cancer of pleura 2D72 and chest wall as secondary 2E0Y.

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Example 7
1 (a) Mesothelioma of pleura 2C26.0 and lymph nodes 2D60.Z

(b)

(c)

2
Mesothelioma of pleura is indexed to 2C26.0, which is in the code range for primary
malignant neoplasms. Pleura is on the list of common sites of metastases but since the
morphology (mesothelioma) is compatible with the site (pleura) this does not change
the coding. Therefore, code 2C26.0 Mesothelioma of pleura. The malignant neoplasm
of lymph nodes is considered secondary, since lymph nodes is on the list of common
sites of metastases.

Example 8
1 (a) Lung cancer 2C25.Z

(b)

(c)

2 Stomach cancer 2B72.Z

Code both lung cancer 2C25.Z and stomach cancer 2B72.Z as primary. Although lung
is on the list of common sites of metastases, it is the only malignant neoplasm
mentioned in Part 1 of the certificate, and the coding of lung cancer is not influenced by
neoplasms mentioned in another part of the certificate.

Example 9
1 (a) Cancer of bladder 2C94.Z

(b) Cancer of kidney 2C90.Z

(c)

2
Code both cancer of bladder 2C94.Z and cancer of kidney 2C90.Z as primary, since
neither is on the list of common sites of metastases, and neither is described as
primary.

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Example 10
1 (a) Osteosarcoma of sacrum 2B51.Y

(b) Clear cell cancer of kidney 2C90.Y

(c)

2
Code both malignant neoplasms as primary. Bone is on the list of common sites of
metastases, but osteosarcoma is indexed as a primary cancer of bone 2B51.Y. Also, it
is of different morphology than clear cell cancer of kidney.

Example 11
1 (a) Osteosarcoma of lung 2B51.Z 2D70

(b)

(c)

2
The morphology indicates a primary neoplasm of bone, and the reported site (lung) is
incompatible with the morphology. Code to osteosarcoma of unspecified site 2B51.Z,
also add a code for malignant neoplasm metastasis in lung 2D70.

If all sites are on the list of common sites of metastases, then code all sites as
secondary. It is recommended that you also add a code for unknown primary. Code
2D4Z Unspecified malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified sites, if no
morphology is stated. If the morphology is stated, then code to the ‘unspecified site’
code for the morphology involved.

Exception: If all sites are on the list of common sites of metastases but one of them is
lung, then code lung as primary.

[Link] More than one primary malignant neoplasm

If more than one primary malignant neoplasm is reported on the same certificate, code
each primary malignant neoplasm. Indications of several primary malignant neoplasms
are:

 different morphologies;
 a site-specific morphology reported with a malignant neoplasm of another site
that is not on the list of common sites of metastases;
 the sites are not on the list of common sites of metastases:
o if one morphology term is less specific and covers a more specific term
that is also used on the certificate, then consider the two as referring to
the same neoplasm;
o do not consider ‘cancer’ or ‘carcinoma’ as morphologic terms, but as
synonyms to ‘malignant neoplasm’.

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Example
1
Transitional cell carcinoma of bladder 2C94.2 Urothelial carcinoma
1 (a)
of bladder

(b)

(c)

Osteosarcoma, primary in knee 2C94.2 Urothelial carcinoma of

2
bladder
Bladder on 1(a) is not on the list of common sites of metastases. The malignant
neoplasm reported in Part 2 is specified as primary. Further, the two neoplasms are of
different morphology and both are considered primary. Code as 2C94.2 Urothelial
carcinoma of bladder and 2B51.1 Osteosarcoma of bone or articular cartilage of limbs
and an additional code for the anatomy of the knee if desired XA8RL1.

Example 2
1 (a) Hepatoma 2C12.02

(b) Cancer of breast 2C6Z

(c)

2
The morphology ‘hepatoma’ indicates a primary malignant neoplasm of liver. The
breast cancer is also considered primary, since breast is not on the list of common
sites of metastases. The coding tool leads to hepatocellular carcinoma for a malignant
hepatoma. Code as 2C12.02 and 2C6Z.

Example 3
1 (a) Glioblastoma 2A00.00

(b) Cancer of breast 2C6Z

(c)

2
The morphology ‘glioblastoma’ is primary in the central nervous system, usually in the
brain. Therefore, the instruction in section above does not apply, even though brain is
on the list of common sites of metastases. Code the glioblastoma as primary in brain
2A00.00, which is the code for glioblastoma given by the coding tool if no other primary
site is indicated. The breast cancer is also considered primary, since breast is not on
the list of common sites of metastases. Code the breast cancer as primary Malignant
neoplasm of breast 2C6Z.

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[Link] Site not clearly indicated

If a malignant neoplasm is described as in the ‘area’ or ‘region’ of a site, or if the site is
prefixed by ‘peri’, ‘para’, ‘pre’, ‘supra’, ‘infra’ or similar expressions, then first check
whether this compound term is included in the coding tool.

If the compound term is not in the coding tool, then code morphologies to the
appropriate morphology of the site unspecified. 2D4Y Other specified malignant
neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified primary sites is used for morphologies specified
but not classifiable elsewhere.

If the above two does not apply, or the morphology is not stated, then code to 2D42
Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined sites.

When the site of a primary malignant neoplasm is not specified, do not make any
assumption of the primary site from the location of other reported conditions such as
perforation, obstruction or haemorrhage (See example 3). These conditions may arise
in sites unrelated to the neoplasm. For example, intestinal obstruction may be caused
by the spread of a malignant neoplasm of ovary.

Example 1
1 (a) Fibrosarcoma in the region of the pancreas 2B53.Z

(b)

(c)

2
Code as 2B53.Z Fibroblastic or myofibroblastic tumour, primary site, unspecified

Example 2
1 (a) Carcinoma in the lung area 2C29.Z

(b)

(c)

2
Code as 2C29.Z Malignant neoplasms of other or ill-defined sites in the respiratory
system or intrathoracic organs, unspecified

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Example 3
1 (a) Obstruction of intestines DB30.Z

(b) Carcinoma 2D4Z

(c)

2
Code the carcinoma as 2D4Z Unspecified malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or
unspecified sites

[Link] Primary site unknown

If the certificate states that the primary site is unknown and does not mention a
possible primary site, code to the category for unspecified site for the morphological
type involved. For example, code adenocarcinoma to 2D40, fibrosarcoma to 2B53.Z
and osteosarcoma to 2B51.Z.

If the certificate mentions a probable or possible primary site, disregard the expression
indicating doubt and code to that site. See also Section 2.22.1 Uncertain diagnosis.
(See Example 3)

If the certificate mentions several possible primary sites, select a code according to the
instructions in Section [Link] One condition, either one site or another above. (See
Example 4)

Example
1
1 (a) Secondary carcinoma of liver 2D80.0

Primary site unknown 2D41 Unspecified carcinoma of unspecified

(b)
site

(c)

2
The certificate states that the primary site is unknown. For line 1(b), use the code 2D41
Unspecified carcinoma of unspecified site.

Example 2
1 (a) Generalised metastases 2E2Z

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Example 2
(b) Melanoma 2C30.Z Melanoma of skin, unspecified

(c) Primary site unknown 2D4Z

2
The certificate states that the primary site is unknown. Code as 2C30.Z Melanoma of
skin, unspecified.

Example
3
1 (a) Secondary carcinoma of liver 2D80.0

Primary site unknown, possibly stomach 2B72.Z Malignant

(b)
neoplasms of stomach, unspecified

(c)

2
The certificate states that the primary site is unknown, but it also mentions stomach as
a possible primary site. Ignore ‘possibly’ and code line 1(b) as 2B72.Z Malignant
neoplasms of stomach, unspecified.

Example
4
1 (a) Secondary carcinoma of liver 2D80.0

Primary site unknown, probably stomach 2B72.Z Malignant

(b)
neoplasms of stomach, unspecified or colon 2B90.Z 2C11.Z

(c)

2
The certificate states that the primary site is unknown, but it also mentions stomach or
colon as a possible primary site. Code line 1(b) as 2C11.Z.

[Link] ‘Metastatic’ cancer

Note: The expression ‘metastatic’ is a problem mainly in the English language. Other
countries should translate only as much as needed of this Section.

For multiple cause mortality coding, always follow the instructions in this section. This
applies even if the coding tool indicates an ICD code for a ‘metastatic’ neoplasm or
‘metastatic’ disease other than the code you would arrive at by following these
instructions. For example, the search might lead to a code in the section for ‘malignant
neoplasm metastases’, but the multiple cause coding instructions might tell you to code

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the neoplasm as primary. If so, follow the instructions and code the neoplasm as
primary.

Neoplasms qualified as metastatic are always malignant, either primary or secondary.

However, the adjective ‘metastatic’ is used in two ways, sometimes meaning a
secondary from a primary elsewhere and sometimes denoting a primary that has given
rise to metastases.

If a malignant neoplasm is described as ‘metastatic from’ a specified site, or if a ‘due to’

relationship implies a spread from a specified site, code to primary of this site. This also
applies to sites on the list of common sites of metastases. See Section [Link] for the
blocks used for primary malignant neoplasms.

If a malignant neoplasm is described as ‘metastatic to’ a specified site, or if a ‘due to’

relationship implies a spread to a specified site, code to secondary of this site, whether
the site is on the list of common sites of metastases or not. Use a code in 2D50-2E2Z
‘Malignant neoplasm metastases’ for this secondary site. However, if a morphology
classifiable to [ ] is reported, code to the ‘unspecified site’ subcategory of that
morphological type.

A malignant neoplasm described as metastatic of site A to site B should be interpreted

as primary of site A and secondary of site B.

If the certificate reports a malignant neoplasm specified as ‘metastatic’ of a

morphological type classifiable to a cancer category that mentions a specific
histopathology only, and the site reported is consistent with the morphological type,
then code to a primary malignant neoplasm of the specified morphological type. Use
the appropriate site subcategory for the specified morphological type or site.

If the ‘metastatic’ cancer reported on the certificate and the site is not consistent with
the morphological type, then code to a secondary malignant neoplasm of the specified
site. Also add a code for a primary malignant neoplasm of unspecified site for the
stated morphological type.

When applying the remaining instructions on ‘metastatic’ in this Section, do not change
codes assigned according to the instructions in this Section to codes for secondary
malignant neoplasms (2D50-2E2Z).

Example
1
Osteosarcoma of sacrum, metastatic 2B51.2 Osteosarcoma of bone
1 (a)
or articular cartilage of pelvis

(b)

(c)

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The site sacrum is consistent with a primary cancer of bone. Code as 2B51.2
Osteosarcoma of bone or articular cartilage of pelvis.

Example 2
1 (a) Osteosarcoma of kidney, metastatic 2E00 2B51.Z

(b)

(c)

2
The specified site (kidney) is not consistent with osteosarcoma, which is primary in
bone. Code osteosarcoma of kidney as a secondary malignant neoplasm 2E00,
because the specified site (kidney) is not consistent with osteosarcoma, which is a
primary in bone. Since no primary site is reported, code 2B51.Z Osteosarcoma of bone
and articular cartilage of unspecified sites.

If the certificate mentions a single malignant neoplasm, it is on the list of common sites
of metastases and is specified as ‘metastatic’, then code the neoplasm as secondary,
even if no other neoplasm is mentioned on the certificate. Also add a code for
unspecified primary malignant neoplasm 2D4Z.

 exception: Code a neoplasm, even if described as ‘metastatic’, of a site on the

list of common sites of metastases as primary when it is reported as due to a
condition that increases the risk of a malignant neoplasm of that site or tissue.
 exception: If the only malignant neoplasm mentioned on the certificate is
‘metastatic’ neoplasm of lung, code to 2C25.Z Malignant neoplasms of bronchus
or lung, unspecified. If another malignant neoplasm is mentioned that is not on
the list of common sites of metastases, then code a ‘metastatic’ malignant
neoplasm of lung as 2D70 Malignant neoplasm metastasis in lung. This applies
whether or not lung is mentioned in the same part of the certificate as the other
malignant neoplasm.
 exception: For ‘metastatic’ neoplasms of a specified morphology and on the list
of common sites of metastases, see Section above.

Note that a malignant neoplasm of a site on the list of common sites of metastases is
coded as primary if it is the only site mentioned and it is not described as ‘metastatic’.
See also Section .

Example 1
1 (a) Metastatic cancer of lung (adenocarcinoma) 2C25.0

(b)

(c)

2
Adenocarcinoma can be primary in lung, so lung is the only site mentioned or implied
on the certificate. Code as primary malignant neoplasm of lung 2C25.0.
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If the certificate mentions several malignant neoplasms that are on the list of common
sites of metastases and one or more of them are specified as ‘metastatic’, then code all
of them as secondary malignant neoplasms. Also add a code for unspecified primary
malignant neoplasm 2D4Z.

 exception: Code a ‘metastatic neoplasm of lung’ as primary malignant neoplasm

of the lung 2C25.Z Malignant neoplasms of bronchus or lung, unspecified if all
other neoplasm sites reported on the death certificate are on the list of common
sites of metastases, whether they are described as ‘metastatic’ or not.
 exception: For ‘Metastatic’ neoplasms of a specified morphology’ and on the list
of common sites of metastases, see Section above.

If the certificate mentions a single malignant neoplasm, this neoplasm is not on the list
of common sites of metastases and it is specified as ‘metastatic’, then code as primary
malignant neoplasm of that particular site.

If the certificate mentions several malignant neoplasms that are not on the list of
common sites of metastases and all of them are specified as ‘metastatic’, then code all
neoplasms as primary.

If the certificate mentions several malignant neoplasms, and none of them is on the list
of common sites of metastases and some but not all are specified as ‘metastatic’, then
code a neoplasm not specified as ‘metastatic’ as primary and a neoplasm specified as
‘metastatic’ as secondary.

See section [Link] for blocks used for primary or secondary.

If the certificate mentions several malignant neoplasms and some but not all are on the
list of common sites of metastases and some but not all are specified as ‘metastatic’,
then code a neoplasm on the list of common sites of metastases as secondary (2D50-
2E2Z). Also, code a neoplasm not on the list of common sites of metastases and
specified as ‘metastatic’ as secondary, and a neoplasm not on the list of common sites
of metastases and not specified as ‘metastatic’ as primary (See Section [Link] for the
blocks used for primary malignant neoplasms).

 exception: Code neoplasms, even if described as ‘metastatic’, as primary when

reported as due to a condition that increases the risk of a malignant neoplasm of
that site or tissue, whether the site is on the list of common sites of metastases
or not.
Example 1
1 (a) Bladder cancer 2C94

(b) Metastatic prostate cancer 2E06

(c)

2
Code as Secondary prostate cancer 2E06 and Primary bladder cancer 2C94. The
order of entry does not impact on the coding.

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Example 2
1 (a) Liver cancer 2D80.0

(b) Metastatic colon cancer 2B90

(c)

2
Code as Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver 2D80.0 and Primary malignant
neoplasm of colon 2B90 . Liver is on the list of common sites of metastases but colon
is not.

Example 3
1 (a) Liver cancer 2D80.0

(b) Metastatic colon cancer 2B90

(c) Cancer of gallbladder 2C13.Z

2
Code as 2D80.0 Malignant neoplasm metastasis in liver, 2D85 Malignant neoplasm
metastasis in large intestine and 2C13.Z Malignant neoplasms of gallbladder,
unspecified. Metastatic colon cancer is reported together with cancer of gallbladder
which is not on the list of common sites of metastases, and therefore gallbladder is
coded as primary and colon as secondary. Liver is coded as secondary, since it is on
the list of common sites of metastases.

Example 4
1 (a) Metastatic gallbladder cancer 2C13.Z

(b) Metastatic colon cancer 2B90

(c)

2
Code as Primary malignant neoplasm of gallbladder 2C13.Z and Primary malignant
neoplasm of colon 2B90 . The order of entry does not impact on the coding.

2.22.6 Sequelae
A sequela is a chronic condition resulting from an acute condition and begins during
that acute condition. The acute condition is no longer present.

The classification provides certain categories to be used when a condition is reported

as sequelae, late effects, or other conditions specified in this section (e.g. 1G80-1G8Y
Sequelae of infectious diseases). Where no specific category is provided for the
sequelae condition (e.g. late effects of injuries are coded to the residual category of the
chapter that may also include acute conditions), use additional code XT9C Cause of

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late effect, if desired, to identify that the first condition was reported as a cause of a
sequelae condition (e.g. Head injury sequelae: NA0Z/XT9C Injuries to the head,
unspecified/Cause of late effect).

[Link] Conditions considered to be a late effect

Consider the previous condition of the following categories present one year or more
after onset of the condition as a late effect:

 Sequelae of viral encephalitis (1G84)

 Sequelae of other specified infectious diseases (1G82, 1G83, 1G85, 1G8Y)
 Sequelae of rickets (5B63)
 Late effects of cerebrovascular disease (8B25)
 Late effects of injuries, of poisoning or of certain other consequences of external
causes
 Late effects of external causes of morbidity or mortality

[Link] Sequelae of tuberculosis

Sequelae of tuberculosis 1G80 include conditions specified as such or as arrested,
cured, healed, inactive, old or quiescent, unless there is evidence of active
tuberculosis. It does not include chronic tuberculosis, which should be coded as active
infectious disease.

[Link] Sequelae of trachoma

Sequelae of trachoma 1G81 include residuals of trachoma specified as healed or
inactive and certain specified sequelae, such as blindness, cicatricial entropion and
conjunctival scars, unless there is evidence of active infection. It does not include
chronic trachoma, which should be coded as active infectious disease.

[Link] Sequelae of other specified infectious diseases

Sequelae of other infectious diseases include conditions specified as such or as
arrested, cured, healed, inactive, old or quiescent. Sequelae also include conditions
present one year or more after onset of conditions classifiable to categories, unless
there is evidence of active disease. It does not include chronic infectious diseases,
which should be coded as active infectious disease.

[Link] Sequelae of rickets

Sequelae of rickets 5B63 include conditions stated to be a sequela or late effect of
rickets, or previous rickets as the cause of conditions present one year or more after
onset of rickets. It does not include chronic malnutrition or nutritional deficiency, which
should be coded to current malnutrition or nutritional deficiency.

2.22.7 Consistency between sex of patient and diagnosis

Most categories of ICD–11 apply to persons of both sexes. However, some diseases
are more likely to occur in one sex than in the other.

The general recommendation for handling this situation follows; however, legal
requirements may vary for countries. If there might be an inconsistency between the
sex of the deceased and the code, check the information and make sure that no
reporting error occurred.

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Follow any further information provided by the certifier. If it turns out that the code is in
fact correct, then keep the code. Consider adding a note to the statistics that the
reported cause of death was verified and is correct.

If no additional information can be obtained and there are no reasons to presume that
the reported condition is correct (such as an indication of sex-change treatment), then
code MH14 Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality. Consider adding a
note to the statistics, specifying the number of cases recoded to MH14 because of
apparent inconsistencies between sex and cause.

2.22.8 Specific instructions on other ICD categories

[Link] Acute or chronic rheumatic heart diseases
Rheumatic heart diseases are classified to 1B41 Acute rheumatic fever with heart
involvement or to chronic conditions at fifth character 0 of BB60-BC0Z Heart valve
diseases, or BC20 Chronic rheumatic heart diseases, not elsewhere classified,
depending upon the rheumatic process being described as active or inactive. If there is
no statement that the rheumatic process was active or inactive at the time of death,
code the following cardiac conditions as active (1B41 Acute rheumatic fever with heart
involvement):

 a cardiac condition reported as due to rheumatic fever, except cardiac arrest,

acute heart failure, bacterial endocarditis;
 a cardiac condition specified as rheumatic and described as acute or subacute;
 carditis, endocarditis, heart disease, myocarditis or pancarditis, described as
rheumatic or reported as due to a rheumatic disease, and the interval from onset
is less than one year;
 carditis, endocarditis, heart disease, myocarditis or pancarditis, described as
rheumatic or reported as due to a rheumatic disease, and the deceased is less
than 15 years old.

[Link] Pneumonia and immobility

Code pneumonia, organism unspecified reported with immobility or reduced mobility to
Hypostatic pneumonia, unspecified.

[Link] Obstetric death of unspecified cause, Obstetric deaths 42

days–1 year after delivery, sequelae of direct obstetric causes
Categories JB60, JB61 and JB62 classify obstetric deaths according to the time
elapsed between the obstetric event and the death of the woman. Category JB60 is to
be used when a woman dies during pregnancy, labour, delivery or the puerperium and
the only information provided is ‘maternal’ or ‘obstetric’ death. If the obstetric cause of
death is specified, do not use JB60 but code to the appropriate category. Category
JB61 is used to classify deaths from any direct or indirect obstetric causes that occur
more than 42 days but less than a year after termination of the pregnancy. Category
JB62 is used to classify deaths from any direct obstetric cause that occur one year or
more after termination of the pregnancy.

[Link] Perinatal deaths

Use a code from Chapter 19, Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, if:

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 the condition is indexed to a code in Chapter 19;

 there is an index entry for the specified condition as
congenital/perinatal/newborn, and the duration of the condition indicates that the
condition developed in the neonatal or perinatal period. This applies even if the
condition is not specified as neonatal or perinatal on the certificate.

For some conditions diagnosed below a specific age, it is assumed that the condition
was congenital. See the following section, ‘Developmental anomalies’.

Further, for children less than 28 days old, assume that a reported condition developed
in the perinatal period, unless the duration is stated, and the onset was after the first
completed week of life.

Note that some types of conditions are excluded from Chapter 19, such as:

 Tetanus neonatorum
 Congenital gonococcal infection
 Congenital syphilis
 HIV disease
 Infectious diseases acquired after birth
 Intestinal infectious diseases
 Neoplasms
 Hereditary haemolytic anaemia
 Transient hypogammaglobulinaemia of infancy
 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
 Certain congenital diseases of the nervous system
 Congenital cardiomyopathy
 Intestinal obstruction or paralytic ileus
 Pemphigus neonatorum and Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
 Cradle cap
 Diaper (napkin) dermatitis
 Developmental anomalies
 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

[Link] Developmental anomalies

Conditions classified as Developmental anomalies should be coded as such if the
duration of a condition indicates that it existed from birth then code the condition as
congenital, even if the condition is not specified as congenital on the certificate. This
applies to all conditions for which a specific congenital code is available, whether or not
the code is in Chapter 20. Refer to the coding tool for the appropriate code of the
condition with the modifier ‘congenital’.

Further, the following conditions should be coded as congenital at the ages stated,
provided there is no indication that they were acquired after birth:

 Under l year
o aneurysm
o aortic stenosis
o atresia
o atrophy of brain
o cyst of brain

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o deformity
o displacement of organ
o ectopia
o hypoplasia of organ
o malformation
o pulmonary stenosis
o valvular heart disease
 Under 4 weeks
o heart disease NOS
o hydrocephalus NOS

[Link] Multiple injuries in the same body region and Injuries involving
multiple body regions
In multiple cause coding, do not use codes for multiple injuries of the same body region
(‘Multiple injuries of specific sites’ in NA00 -ND1Z) or codes for ND30-ND37 ‘Injuries
involving multiple body regions’, if specific information on the injuries involved is
available. Code each injury separately and use specific injury codes as possible. The
information of multiple injuries is to be obtained in the multiple cause code string as a
set of specific injury codes.

[Link] Complications of surgical and medical care

Early complications and conditions arising from devices, implants or grafts are coded
from the appropriate system chapter. There is a short list of specific complications not
elsewhere classified found in Chapter 22, ‘Injury or harm arising from surgical and
medical care, not elsewhere classified in the category NE8Z’. Code late complications
and longstanding complications of organ function to the postprocedural section in the
appropriate system chapter.

[Link] Intent of external causes

This section covers events where available information is insufficient to enable a
medical or legal authority to make a distinction between unintentional causes,
intentional self-harm and assault (PF40-PH8Z). Following cases are included:

 When external causes are reported as the intent could not be determined
 When self-inflicted injuries are reported without specification of intent

Note that self-inflicted poisonings reported without specification of intent is assumed to

be unintentional and is coded to PB20-PB36 Unintentional exposure to or harmful
effects of substances.

Note that reporting of the intent may be affected by legal provisions in each country or
region - assignment of codes should follow such provisions as appropriate.

[Link] Factors influencing health status or contact with health services

This chapter should not be used for international comparison or for primary mortality
coding.

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[Link] Special instructions on foetal deaths

Some international agencies require data on both live births and foetal deaths, but
others do not include foetal deaths in their mortality statistics. Therefore, if foetal
deaths are included in the national mortality register they must be easy to identify, so
that data include or do not include foetal deaths as requested by the agency to which
the data will be delivered.

If it is not clear whether the certificate relates to a foetal death or a child born alive,
refer back to the certifier if possible. If the certifier confirms that it was a foetal death, or
if other evidence points to a foetal death, then flag the death as a foetal death in the
mortality statistics. If no cause of death is stated, code to KD3B.Z ‘Unspecified time of
fetal death, cause not specified’.

If the certifier states that the child was born alive but does not report the cause of
death, then code to MH14 ‘Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality’.

2.23 Annexes for Mortality Coding

2.23.1 International form of medical death certificate
Figure 1: International Death Certificate

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International Death Certificate

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2.23.2 Death certificate Quick reference guide

Additional data that might be necessary for the reporting system of countries can be
added to the certificate. The form has a Frame A that serves to report the cause of
death, the sequence of causes, the duration of diseases until death, and other
conditions contributing to death, such as obvious information, like ‘cardiac arrest’ or
‘respiratory arrest’. Causes of death should be reported with the best available detail.
For example, ‘birth depression’ for a newborn child that died, should be complemented
by the reason for birth depression, as intrapartal asphyxia, or prepartal hypoxaemia.

Frame B helps to report detail that is relevant to coding and epidemiology analyses for
deaths due to external causes, maternal deaths, perinatal deaths, and deaths due to
postprocedural conditions. It complements the information of Frame A. The complete
reporting of the causes of death is based on an accurate examination of the dead body,
the assessment of local circumstances and insight in available health records. Correct
establishment of a cause of death and filling in the death certificate requires training
that should start at the medical school and is refreshed in continuous education
programmes. Also important is the practical experience that is gained under the
supervision of more experienced colleagues. It is noted that medical certifiers that
establish the cause of death may not always be available. Replacement by non-
physicians may result in a changed pattern of the reported causes of death.

Where the dead body is no longer available for examination, for example due to low
coverage with medical staff or traditional rapid burial procedures, a verbal autopsy may
provide some limited information on the cause of death. In such case, a sequence of
causes that led to death will rarely be identified, and causes identified with verbal
autopsy should be reported separately.

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2.23.3 Suggested additional detail of perinatal deaths

Suggested
Detail Perinatal Deaths
Figure 1: Suggested detail for perinatal deaths.

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2.23.4 Workflow diagram for mortality coding

Workflow
Figure 1: Flowchart of steps SP1 to SP8, and to Steps M1 to M4.

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2.23.5 Causes of HIV

This list to be used in Step SP3-SP4.

Category Code
Any Malignant neoplasm

Neoplasms of haematopoietic or 2B3Z Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid

lymphoid tissues, unspecified tissues, unspecified

Nutritional or metabolic anaemias 3A00-3A03.Y Nutritional or metabolic anaemias

Haemolytic anaemias 3A4Z Haemolytic anaemias, unspecified

Anaemieas or other erythrocyte 3A9Y Other specified anaemias and erythrocyte

disorders disorders

Coagulation defects, purpura and 3B6Z Coagulation defects, purpura or other

other haemorrhagic conditions haemorrhagic or related conditions, unspecified

Disorders due to use of opioids 6C43 Disorders due to use of opioids

6C44 Disorders due to use of sedatives, hypnotics

Mental and behavioural disorders or anxiolytics 6C45 Disorders due to use of
due to use of sedatives or hypnotics cocaine 6C48 Disorders due to use of caffeine
6C49 Disorders due to use of hallucinogens

6C4C Disorders due to use of MDMA or related

drugs, including MDA 6C4E Disorders due to use
of other specified psychoactive substances,
Mental and behavioural disorders
including medications 6C4G Disorders due to use
due to use of volatile solvents
of unknown or unspecified psychoactive
substances 6C4H Disorders due to use of non-
psychoactive substances

Laboratory evidence of human MA14.0 Laboratory evidence of human

immunodeficiency virus [HIV] immunodeficiency virus

Open wound of head, part NA01 Open wound of head NA02 Fracture of skull
unspecified or facial bones

NA08 Crushing injury of head NA09 Traumatic

Crushing injury of head, part
amputation of part of head NA05 Injury of blood
unspecified
vessels of head

NA0A.3 Multiple injuries of head NA0A Certain

Multiple injuries of head
specified injuries of head

Open wound of neck, part

NA21 Open wound of neck NA22 Fracture of neck
unspecified

Injury of blood vessels at neck level NA60 Injury of blood vessels at neck level

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Category Code
NA62 Crushing injury of neck NA63 Traumatic
Crushing injury of neck, part
amputation at neck level NA62.Z Crushing injury
unspecified
of neck, unspecified

Open wound of thorax, part NA81 Open wound of thorax NA82 Fracture of rib,
unspecified sternum or thoracic spine

NB33 Crushing injury of thorax or traumatic

Traumatic amputation of part of amputation of part of thorax NB34 Injury of
thorax muscle, fascia or tendon at thorax level NB35
Multiple injuries of thorax

Open wound of other and NB51 Open wound of abdomen, lower back or
unspecified parts of abdomen pelvis NB52 Fracture of lumbar spine or pelvis

NB90 Injury of blood vessels at abdomen, lower

back or pelvis level NB91 Injury of intra-abdominal
organs NB92 Injury of urinary or pelvic organs
NB93 Crushing injury or traumatic amputation of
Injury of unspecified blood vessel at part of abdomen, lower back or pelvis NB94 Injury
abdomen, lower back and pelvis of muscle, fascia or tendon of abdomen, lower
level back or pelvis NB95 Injury of intra-abdominal
organ with pelvic organ NB96 Other multiple
injuries of abdomen, lower back or pelvis NB97
Certain specified injuries of abdomen, lower back
or pelvis

Open wound of other and NC11 Open wound of shoulder or upper arm
unspecified parts of shoulder girdle NC12 Fracture of shoulder or upper arm

Injury of blood vessels at shoulder NC15 Injury of blood vessels at shoulder or upper
and upper arm level arm level

NC17 Crushing injury of shoulder or upper arm

Crushing injury of shoulder and NC18 Traumatic amputation of shoulder or upper
upper arm arm NC17 Crushing injury of shoulder or upper
arm NC18.Z

Open wound of forearm, part NC31 Open wound of forearm NC32 Fracture of
unspecified forearm

Injury of blood vessels at forearm

NC35 Injury of blood vessels at forearm level
level

NC37 Crushing injury of forearm NC38 Traumatic

Crushing injury of forearm, part
amputation of forearm NC30-NC3Z Injuries to the
unspecified
elbow or forearm

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Category Code
Injury of blood vessels at wrist and
NC56 Injury of blood vessels at wrist or hand level
hand level

NC58 Crushing injury of wrist or hand NC59

Crushing injury of other and
Traumatic amputation of wrist or hand NC37.Z
unspecified parts of wrist and hand
Crushing injury of forearm, unspecified

Open wound of other and NC71 Open wound of hip or thigh NC72 Fracture
unspecified parts of pelvic girdle of femur

Injury of blood vessels at hip and

NC75 Injury of blood vessels at hip or thigh level
thigh level

NC77 Crushing injury of hip or thigh NC78

Crushing injury of hip with thigh Traumatic amputation of hip or thigh NC77.Z
Crushing injury of hip or thigh, unspecified

Open wound of lower leg, part NC91 Open wound of knee or lower leg NC92
unspecified Fracture of lower leg, including ankle

Injury of blood vessels at lower leg

NC95 Injury of blood vessels at lower leg level
level

NC97 Crushing injury of lower leg NC98

Crushing injury of other and
Traumatic amputation of lower leg NC97.Z
unspecified parts of lower leg
Crushing injury of lower leg, unspecified

Injury of blood vessels at ankle and

ND16 Injury of blood vessels at ankle or foot level
foot level

ND18 Crushing injury of ankle or foot ND19

Crushing injury of other parts of
Traumatic amputation of ankle or foot ND18.Z
ankle and foot
Crushing injury of ankle or foot, unspecified

ND31 Open wounds involving multiple body

regions ND32 Fractures involving multiple body
regions ND33 Dislocations, strains or sprains
involving multiple body regions ND34 Crushing
injuries involving multiple body regions ND35
Multiple open wounds, unspecified
Traumatic amputations involving multiple body
regions ND36 Other injuries involving multiple
body regions, not elsewhere classified ND37
Unspecified multiple injuries ND50 Fracture of
spine, level unspecified

Open wound of trunk, level ND31 Open wounds involving multiple body
unspecified regions

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Category Code
Unspecified injuries of spine or ND51 Other injuries of spine or trunk, level
trunk, level unspecified unspecified

Fracture of upper limb, level

ND52 Fracture of arm, level unspecified
unspecified

Open wound of upper limb, level

ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified
unspecified

ND35 Traumatic amputations involving multiple

Traumatic amputation of upper
body regions ND53 Other injuries of arm, level
limb, level unspecified
unspecified

Fracture of lower limb, level

ND54 Fracture of leg, level unspecified
unspecified

Open wound of lower limb, level

ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified
unspecified

ND35 Traumatic amputations involving multiple

Traumatic amputation of lower limb, body regions ND50-ND5Z Injuries to unspecified
level unspecified part of trunk, limb or body region ND55 Other
injuries of leg, level unspecified

Open wound of unspecified body ND56.1 Open wound of unspecified body region
region ND56.2 Fracture of unspecified body region

Injury of blood vessel(s) of ND56.5 Injury of blood vessel of unspecified body

unspecified body region region

Crushing injury and traumatic ND56.8 Traumatic amputation of unspecified body

amputation of unspecified body region ND56 Injury of unspecified body region
region ND56 Injury of unspecified body region

Foreign body on external eye, part

ND70.Z Foreign body on external eye, unspecified
unspecified

Infections following infusion, NE80.Y Other specified injury or harm arising

transfusion and therapeutic following infusion, transfusion or therapeutic
injection injection, not elsewhere classified

NE80.Y Other specified injury or harm arising

Other complications following following infusion, transfusion or therapeutic
infusion, transfusion and injection, not elsewhere classified NE80 Injury or
therapeutic injection harm arising following infusion, transfusion or
therapeutic injection, not elsewhere classified

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Category Code
Unintentional cut, puncture,
PL11.0 Cut, puncture or tear as mode of injury or
perforation or haemorrhage during
harm
surgical and medical care

Failure of sterile precautions during PL11.4 Failure of sterile precautions, as mode of

surgical and medical care injury or harm

PL00 Drugs, medicaments or biological

Contaminated medical or biological
substances associated with injury or harm in
substances
therapeutic use

Surgical and other medical

procedures as the cause of
PK8Z Surgical or other medical procedures
abnormal reaction of the patient, or
associated with injury or harm in diagnostic or
of later complication, without
therapeutic use, unspecified
mention of misadventure at the time
of the procedure
2.23.6 List of conditions that can cause diabetes
Type of Diabetes Due To (Code)

[!Error the uri does not

[]
exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5C3Z

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5B7Z

4A40-4A4Z

KA62.8

5A11 5A70

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5C3Z

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5B7Z

4A40-4A4Z

JA63.2

KA62.8

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Type of Diabetes Due To (Code)

5A12 5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5C3Z

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5B7Z

5A13 1D82.1

1D80.4

2C10

2D80-2D8Z

2E92.8 2E92.8

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error the uri
does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

5A02 5A03

5A60

5A70

5C58.12 [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error
the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5C58.10 EB90.30
5C58.1

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error the uri
does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5C64.1

CA25

5D41

6C40.1

8A01.10

8A03 [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

many

8C71

DC31

DC32.3

DC34 DC35

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Type of Diabetes Due To (Code)

4A40-4A4Z

JA63.2

KA62.8

LD20-LD2Z

LD40.0

LD50.0

LD40.4Mosaicism, 45, X or other cell line with abnormal sex

chromosome LD50.04

LD40-LD7Z

NB91.4

5A14 1D82.1

1D80.4

2C10

2D80-2D8Z

2E92.8 2E92.9

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error the uri
does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

5A02 5A03

5A60

5A70

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5C3Z

5B50-5B7Z

5B50-5B7Z

5C58.12 [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error
the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5C58.10 EB90.30
5C58.1

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] [!Error the uri
does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5C64.1

CA25

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Type of Diabetes Due To (Code)

5D41

6C40.1

8A01.10

8A03 [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

many

8C71

DC31

DC32.3

DC34 DC35

4A40-4A4Z

JA63.2

KA62.8

LD20-LD2Z

LD40.0

LD50.0

LD40.4Mosaicism, 45, X or other cell line with abnormal sex

chromosome, LD50.04

LD40-LD7Z

NB91.4

2.23.7 List of conditions to be considered direct

consequences of surgery and other invasive medical
procedures
The list in this section contains conditions that might develop as complications to
surgery or other invasive medical procedures. This does not mean that the conditions
on the list should always be considered as complications, and the following restrictions
apply:

 Do not consider a condition on the list as a complication of a surgery or an

invasive medical procedure if the surgery or procedure was carried out more
than four weeks before death.
 Do not consider a condition on the list as a complication of a surgery or an
invasive procedure if there is evidence that the condition was present before the
surgery procedure was carried out.

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 Do not consider a condition flagged with ‘OCPR’ (Other Cause of Procedure

Required) as
a complication of surgery or an invasive procedure unless the certificate reports
another condition of the same site that was treated by surgery or some other
invasive procedure.
 Do not consider a condition flagged with ‘DSAP’ (Duration Stated, developed
After Procedure) as a complication unless there is clear evidence that the
condition developed after the surgery or invasive procedure.
 Note that adhesions should be considered as complications of surgery or an
invasive procedure in the same site or region, even after more than four weeks
since the date of the surgery or procedure. If the procedure was performed more
than one year before death, use the codes for sequelae of medical care.

List of conditions to be considered direct consequences of surgery and other invasive

medical procedures

Infections Flag
Abscess OCPR

Bacteraemia

Fistula OCPR, and for a procedure of the same site or region only

Gas gangrene

Infection, haemolytic

Infection NOS DSAP

Infection in surgical wound

Sepsis

Septic

Haemorrhage, haemolysis Flag

Coagulopathy, consumption

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

(DIC)

Haemorrhage NOS

Haemorrhage, gastrointestinal OCPR

Haemorrhage, intra-abdominal OCPR

Haemorrhage, rectal OCPR

Haemorrhage, surgical wound

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Haemorrhage, haemolysis Flag

For a procedure of the same site or region
haemorrhage, specified site
only

Haematemesis OCPR

Haematoma OCPR

Haemothorax OCPR

Haemolysis

Melaena OCPR

Cardiac complications Flag

Arrest, cardiac

Arrhythmia NOS DSAP

Asystole

Block, cardiac DSAP

Failure/insufficiency, cardiac

Fibrillation, atrial DSAP

Fibrillation, ventricular

Infarction (myocardial)

Ischaemia, myocardial (acute)

Rupture, myocardial

Cerebrovascular and other cerebral complications Flag

Apoplexy DSAP

Damage, brain (anoxic) DSAP

Embolism, cerebral DSAP

Haemorrhage, cerebral/intracranial DSAP

Infarction, cerebral DSAP

Ischaemia, cerebral/cerebrovascular DSAP

Lesion, cerebral/cerebrovascular DSAP

Meningitis DSAP

Oedema, cerebral DSAP

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Cerebrovascular and other cerebral complications Flag

Stroke DSAP

Thrombosis, cerebral DSAP

Other vascular complications Flag

Arrest, circulatory

Embolism (arterial)

Embolism, fat/air

Embolism, air

Embolism, pulmonary

Embolism, venous

Failure/insufficiency, circulatory

Hypotension

Infarction, pulmonary

Infarction (any site)

Occlusion (any site)

Phlebitis (any site)

Phlebothrombosis (any site)

Thrombophlebitis (any site)

Thrombosis, arterial

Thrombosis, venous

Thrombosis NOS (any site)

Respiratory complications Flag

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Alkalosis and acidosis, respiratory

Arrest, respiratory

Aspiration

Atelectasis

Bronchitis DSAP

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Respiratory complications Flag

Effusion, pleura

Empyema OCPR

Fistula, bronchopleural or oesophageal OCPR

Failure/insufficiency, pulmonary

Failure/insufficiency, respiratory

Mediastinitis

Obstruction, upper airway OCPR

Oedema, laryngeal OCPR

Oedema/hypostasis, pulmonary

Pneumonia

Pneumothorax OCPR

Gastrointestinal complications Flag

Abscess, intra-abdominal OCPR

Constipation OCPR

Dilatation, gastric OCPR

Disorder, circulatory, gastrointestinal OCPR

Embolism, mesenterial OCPR

Failure, hepatic DSAP

Fistula, biliary/ bowel/rectovaginal OCPR

Ileus OCPR

Ischaemia, intestinal OCPR

Necrosis, gastrointestinal OCPR

Obstruction, bowel (mechanical) OCPR

Peritonitis OCPR

Ulcer, gastrointestinal (stress) OCPR

Volvulus OCPR

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Renal and urinary complications Flag

Anuria

Failure/insufficiency, renal

Fistula, urinary OCPR

Infection, urinary

Pyelonephritis DSAP

Retention, urine

Stricture, urethra OCPR

Uraemia

Urosepsis

Other complications Flag

Adhesions For a procedure of the same site or region only

Compartment syndrome OCPR

Complication(s) NOS

Crisis, thyrotoxic DSAP

Displacement, prosthesis

Failure, (multi)organ

Gangrene

Insufficiency, anastomosis OCPR

Necrosis, fat/wound OCPR

Seizures (epileptic) DSAP

Shock NOS

Shock, anaphylactic

Ulcer, decubitus

2.23.8 List of ill-defined conditions

Use this table in Step SP7. Conditions in this table are considered ill-defined and are
not for use as underlying cause of death.

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Code or
Category title
Chapter
MC82 Cardiac arrest

BD10-BD1Z Heart failure in BD10-; specified as acute (XT5R)

BA2Z Hypotension, unspecified

BE2Y Other specified diseases of the circulatory system

BE2Z Diseases of the circulatory system, unspecified

CB41.0 Acute respiratory failure

CB41.2 Respiratory failure, unspecified as acute or chronic

KB2D Respiratory failure of newborn

KB2E Respiratory arrest of newborn

Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not elsewhere classified;

Chapter 21
except conditions listed below:

MA15 Microbiological findings in blood, blood-forming organs, or

the immune system

MG43 Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intake

MG44.1 Lack of expected normal physiological development

2.23.9 List of conditions unlikely to cause death
 Cutaneous mycobacterial infection 1B21.2
 Other forms of cutaneous actinomycosis 1C10
 Herpesviral infection of genitalia and urogenital tract 1A94.0
 Trachoma 1C23
 Chlamydial conjunctivitis 1C20
 Herpesviral gingivostomatitis 1F00.02
 Herpesviral ocular disease 1F00.1
 Herpesviral whitlow 1F00.0
 Viral warts 1E80
 Molluscum contagiosum 1E76
 Foot and mouth disease 1F05.3
 Viral conjunctivitis 1D84
 Dermatophytosis 1F28
 Other superficial mycoses 1F2D
 Pediculosis and phthiriasis 1G00
 Somatoform disorders EC92.0
 Eating disorders 6B8Z
 Sleep-wake disorders [07]
 Sexual dysfunction, not caused by organic disorder or disease HA0Z
 Specific personality disorders 6D10
 Mixed and other personality disorders 6D10

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 Enduring personality changes, not attributable to brain damage and disease

6B41
 Habit and impulse disorders 6C7Z and 6C5Z
 Gender identity disorders HA61
 Disorders of sexual preference 6D3Z
 Psychological and behavioural disorders associated with sexual development
and orientation []
 Other disorders of adult personality and behaviour 6D5Z
 Unspecified disorder of adult personality and behaviour 6D10
 Disorders of psychological development 6A00-6A0Z
 Tic disorders 8A05
 Migraine, except complicated migraine (G43.3) 8A80
 Other headache syndromes 8A84
 Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks and related syndromes 8B10
 Disorders of trigeminal nerve 8B82
 Facial nerve disorders 8B88
 Nerve root and plexus disorders 8C4Z
 Mononeuropathies of upper limb 8C10
 Mononeuropathies of lower limb 8C11
 Mononeuritis multiplex 8C12.1
 Hordeolum and chalazion 9A01.2
 Other inflammation of eyelid 9A01
 Other disorders of eyelid 9A06
 Disorders of lacrimal system 9A11
 Conjunctivitis 9A60
 Other disorders of conjunctiva 9A61
 Disorders of sclera 9B5Z
 Keratitis 9A71
 Corneal scars and opacities 9A77
 Other disorders of cornea 9A78
 Iridocyclitis 9A96.0
 Other disorders of iris and ciliary body 9A94
 Senile cataract 9B10.0
 Other cataract 9B10.2
 Other disorders of lens 9B11
 Chorioretinal inflammation 9B65.2
 Other disorders of choroid 9B6Y
 Retinal detachments and breaks 9B73
 Retinal vascular occlusions 9B74
 Other retinal disorders 9B78
 Glaucoma 9C61
 Disorders of vitreous body 9B8Z
 Optic neuritis 9C40.1
 Other disorders of optic (2nd) nerve and visual pathways 9C40
 Paralytic strabismus 9C81
 Other strabismus 9C80, 9C82, 9C83, 9C84, 9C85
 Other disorders of binocular movement 9C83
 Disorders of refraction and accommodation 9D0Z
 Visual disturbances MC1Y
 Blindness and low vision 9D90
 Nystagmus 9C84

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 Structural disorders of the pupil LA11.6

 Ocular pain []
 Postprocedural disorders of eye or ocular adnexa []
 Otitis externa AA3Z
 Noninflammatory disorders of the external ear, unspecified AA6Z
 Otosclerosis AB33
 Other diseases of inner ear AB30, AB31, AB32, AB34, AB35, AB36, AB37,
AB3Y
 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss AB50, AB51
 Other hearing loss AB52, AB53, AB54, AB55, AB56, AB57, AB5Y
 Otalgia and effusion of ear AB70
 Other disorders of ear, not elsewhere classified AB71, AB72, AB73, AB7Y
 Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold] CA00
 Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites CA07
 Vasomotor and allergic rhinitis CA08
 Nasal polyp CA0J
 Deviated nasal septum CA0D
 Chronic disease of tonsils and adenoids CA0F
 Disorders of tooth development and eruption DA07
 Embedded and impacted teeth DA07.7
 Dental caries DA08.0
 Other diseases of hard tissues of teeth DA08
 Diseases of pulp and periapical tissues DA09
 Gingivitis and periodontal diseases DA0B
 Other disorders of gingiva and edentulous alveolar ridge DA0D
 Dentofacial anomalies (including malocclusion) DA0E
 Other disorders of teeth and supporting structures DA0A
 Cyst of oral region, not elsewhere classified DA05
 Other diseases of jaws DA06
 Diseases of salivary glands DA04
 Diseases of tongue DA03
 Impetigo (for infants over 1 year of age) 1B72
 Bacterial cellulitis or lymphangitis due to unspecified bacterium []
 Acute lymphadenitis BD90.0
 Pilonidal cyst EG63.1
 Other local infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue
 Atopic dermatitis EA80
 Seborrhoeic dermatitis EA81
 Diaper [napkin] dermatitis EH40.1
 Allergic contact dermatitis EK00
 Irritant contact dermatitis EK02
 Unspecified contact dermatitis EK0Z
 Lichen simplex chronicus and prurigo EA83.0
 Pruritus EC90
 Other dermatitis EK5Y
 Parapsoriasis EK91.1
 Pityriasis rosea EA10
 Lichen planus EA91
 Lichenoid dermatoses []
 Infantile papular acrodermatitis []
 Pityriasis rubra pilaris []

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 Sunburn, except sunburn of third degree EJ40

 Other acute skin changes due to ultraviolet radiation EJ6Y
 Skin changes due to chronic exposure to nonionizing radiation EJ20-EJ2Y
 Radiodermatitis EJ7Z
 Erythema ab igne EJ10
 Nail disorders EE1Z
 Alopecia areata ED70.2
 Androgenic alopecia ED70.Y
 Other nonscarring hair loss ED70.3, ED70.4
 Cicatricial alopecia [scarring hair loss] ED70.5
 Hair colour and hair shaft abnormalities EC21.1
 Hypertrichosis ED71
 Acne ED80.Z
 Follicular cysts of skin and subcutaneous tissue EK70
 Other follicular disorders ED9Y
 Eccrine sweat disorders EE0Y
 Aprocrine sweat disorders ED92.1
 Vitiligo ED63.0
 Other disorders of pigmentation ED6Y
 Acanthosis nigricans ED51.0
 Corns and callosities EH92.0
 Other epidermal thickening ME66.1
 Transepidermal elimination disorders EE70
 Atrophic disorders of skin EE40.2
 Hypertrophic disorders of skin EE6Y
 Granulomatous disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue
 Other localized connective tissue disorders EE7Y
 Other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue, not elsewhere classified EM0Y
 Acquired deformities of fingers and toes FA30
 Other acquired deformities of limbs FA31
 Disorders of patella FA32
 Internal derangement of knee FA33
 Other specific joint derangements FA34
 Other joint disorders, not elsewhere classified FA37.Z
 Polymyalgia rheumatica FA22
 Kyphosis and lordosis FA70
 Torticollis, unspecified FA71
 Other and unspecified deforming dorsopathies FB1Y
 Spinal stenosis (except for the cervical region) FA82
 Other dorsopathies, not elsewhere classified FB1Y
 Dorsalgia ME84
 Myositis FB3Z
 Synovitis and tenosynovitis FB40
 Spontaneous rupture of synovium and tendon FB41
 Other disorders of synovium and tendon FB42
 Soft tissue disorders related to use, overuse and pressure FB50.1
 Other bursopathies FB50.0, FB50.2, FB50.3, FB50.Y
 Shoulder lesions FB53
 Enthesopathies of lower limb, excluding foot FB54
 Other enthesopathies FB55
 Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified FB56

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 Other acquired deformities of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue

FC00
 Biomechanical lesions, not elsewhere classified ME93
 Stress incontinence MF50.20
 Male infertility GB04
 Redundant prepuce, phimosis, and paraphimosis GB05
 Benign mammary dysplasia 2F30
 Polyp of female genital tract GA1Y
 Other noninflammatory disorders of uterus, except cervix GA16.Y
 Erosion and ectropion of cervix uteri GA15.1
 Dysplasia of cervix uteri GA15.7
 Other noninflammatory disorders of cervix uteri GA15.Y
 Other noninflammatory disorders of vagina GA14.Y
 Other noninflammatory disorders of vulva and perineum GA13.Y
 Absent, scanty, and rare menstruation GA20.0
 Menstrual cycle bleeding disorders GA20
 Other abnormal uterine and vaginal bleeding GA20-GA2Z
 Pain and other conditions associated with female genital organs and menstrual
cycle GA34
 Habitual aborter GA33
 Female infertility GA31
 Congenital malformations of eyelid, lacrimal apparatus and orbit LA14.Z
 Anophthalmos, microphthalmos and macrophthalmos LA10.1
 Congenital lens malformations LA12
 Congenital malformations of anterior segment of eye LA11
 Congenital malformations of posterior segment of eye LA13
 Other congenital malformations of eye LA1Y
 Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing LA22
 Other congenital malformations of ear LA2Y
 Other congenital malformations of face, mouth or teeth LA30-LA5Z
 Structural developmental anomalies of the neck LA60-LA6Z
 Tongue tie LA31.2
 Congenital deformities of hip LB74
 Congenital deformities of feet LB98
 Structural developmental anomalies of cranium LB70
 Structural developmental anomalies of spine or bony thorax LB73
 Structural developmental anomalies of pelvic girdle LB74
 Polydactyly LB78
 Syndactyly LB79
 Reduction defects of upper limb LB99
 Reduction defects of lower limb LB9A
 Reduction defects of unspecified limb LB9B
 Other congenital malformations of limb(s)
 Congenital ichthyosis, except Harlequin foetus EC20.02
 Epidermolysis bullosa simplex EC30
 Other forms of epidermolysis bullosa, except epidermolysis bullosa letalis EC31,
EC32, EC33
 Other congenital malformations of skin LC7Y
 Congenital malformations of breast LB6Z
 Other congenital malformations of integument LC7Y
 Superficial injury of head NA00

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 Superficial injuries (any type) of eye and orbit (any part) NA06
 Superficial injury of neck NA20
 Superficial injury of thorax NA80
 Superficial injury of abdomen, lower back and pelvis NB50
 Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm NC10
 Superficial injury of forearm NC30
 Superficial injury of wrist and hand NC51
 Superficial injury of hip and thigh NC70
 Superficial injury of lower leg NC90
 Superficial injury of ankle and foot ND11
 Superficial injury of trunk, level unspecified ND51
 Superficial injury of upper limb, level unspecified ND53
 Superficial injury of lower limb, level unspecified ND55
 Superficial injury of unspecified body region ND56.0
 Epidermal burn of head and neck ND90.0
 Epidermal burn of trunk ND92
 Epidermal burn of shoulder and upper limb, except wrist and hand ND94.0
 Epidermal burn of wrist and hand ND95.0
 Epidermal burn of hip and lower limb except ankle and foot ND96.0
 Epidermal burn of ankle and foot ND97.0

2.23.10 Priority ranking of Nature-of-Injury codes

The priority ranking of nature of injury codes is produced to standardise and facilitate
coding of the main injury. The list was created with substantial input from the
International Collaborative Effort (ICE) on Injury Statistics. The initial list was introduced
in 2011 after testing in several countries, and a few updates were made to correct
errors in the initial list.

(1 = Highest priority rank)

Code Rank
NA00 Superficial injury of head 6
[] 6
NA01 Open wound of head 5
NA02.0 Fracture of vault of skull 3
NA02.1 Fracture of base of skull 4
NA02.3 Fracture of nasal bones 6
NA02.21 Fracture of orbital floor

NA02.4 Fracture of maxilla

NA02.6 Fracture of tooth

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Code Rank
NA02.7 Fracture of mandible

NA02.8 Multiple fractures involving skull or facial bones 3

NA02 Fracture of skull or facial bones 4
NA02 Fracture of skull or facial bones 3
NA03.0 Dislocation of jaw 5
NA03.1 Dislocation of septal cartilage of nose 6
NA03.2 Dislocation of tooth

NA03 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments of head 5

NA03.3 Strain or sprain of jaw 6
NA03 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments of head

NA04 Injury of cranial nerves 6

NA06.4 Injury of conjunctiva or corneal abrasion without mention of foreign
body
6
NA06.9 Contusion of eyeball or orbital tissues

NA06.87 Ocular laceration or rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue,

unilateral

NA06.8D Ocular laceration without prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue,

unilateral

NA06.1 Penetrating wound of orbit with or without foreign body

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

NA06.89 Penetrating injury of eyeball, bilateral

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

NA06.89 Penetrating injury of eyeball, bilateral

NA06.00 Eyelid Avulsion 5

NA06 Injury of eye or orbit 6
NA07.0 Concussion 6

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Code Rank
NA07.2 Traumatic cerebral oedema 1
NA07.3 Diffuse brain injury

NA07.4 Focal brain injury 2

NA07.5 Traumatic epidural haemorrhage

NA07.6 Traumatic subdural haemorrhage

NA07.7 Traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage

8E21 Permanent vegetative state 1

8E20 Persistent vegetative state

NA07 Intracranial injury 2

NA07 Intracranial injury 2
NA08.1 Crushing injury of face 5
NA08.2 Crushing injury of skull 1
TO BE COMPLETED –> 1
NA09.0 Avulsion of scalp 6
NA09.1 Traumatic amputation of ear

NA09 Traumatic amputation of part of head 4

NA05 Injury of blood vessels of head 5
NA0A.1 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon of head 6
NA0A.2 Traumatic rupture of ear drum

NA0A.3 Multiple injuries of head 4

NA0A Certain specified injuries of head 6
NA0A.1 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon of head 3
NA20.1 Contusion of throat 6
NA20.2 Other or unspecified superficial injuries of throat

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Code Rank
NA20.3 Multiple superficial injuries of neck 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 4
NA21 Open wound of neck 5
NA21 Open wound of neck 4
NA21.5 Multiple open wounds of neck 5
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 3
NA22.0 Fracture of first cervical vertebra 3
NA22.1 Fracture of second cervical vertebra

NA22.3 Multiple fractures of cervical spine

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3
TO BE COMPLETED –> 3
NA23.0 Traumatic rupture of cervical intervertebral disc 6
NA23.1 Dislocation of cervical vertebra 3
NA23.2 Dislocation of other or unspecified parts of neck 5
NA23.3 Multiple dislocations of neck 3
NA23.4 Strain or sprain of cervical spine 5
NA23.5 Strain or sprain of thyroid region 6
NA30 Concussion or oedema of cervical spinal cord 5
NA31 Certain specified injuries of cervical spinal cord 3
NA40 Injury of nerve root of cervical spine 6
NA41 Injury of brachial plexus

NA42 Injury of peripheral nerves of neck

NA43 Injury of cervical sympathetic nerves

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Code Rank
NA42 Injury of peripheral nerves of neck 5
NA60.0 Injury of carotid artery 1
NA60.1 Injury of vertebral artery 2
NA60.2 Injury of external jugular vein 3
NA60.3 Injury of internal jugular vein

NA60.4 Injury of multiple blood vessels at neck level 1

NA61 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon at neck level 6
NA62.0 Crushing injury of larynx or trachea 3
NA62 Crushing injury of neck 3
NA62 Crushing injury of neck 3
NA63 Traumatic amputation at neck level 1
NA64 Multiple injuries of neck 3
NA20-NA6Z Injuries to the neck 4
NA20-NA6Z Injuries to the neck 5
NA80 Superficial injury of thorax 6
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6
[] 5
NA82.0 Fracture of thoracic vertebra 5
NA82.1 Multiple fractures of thoracic spine

NA82.2 Fracture of sternum 6

NA82.3 Fracture of rib

NA82.4 Multiple fractures of ribs 5

NA82.5 Flail chest 2

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
NA83.0 Traumatic rupture of thoracic intervertebral disc 6
NA83.1 Dislocation of thoracic vertebra 5
NA83.2 Dislocation of other or unspecified parts of thorax

NA83.3 Strain or sprain of ligaments of thoracic spine 6

NA83.4 Strain or sprain of ribs or sternum

NA90 Concussion or oedema of thoracic spinal cord 4

NA91 Certain specified injuries of thoracic spinal cord

NB00 Injury of nerve root of thoracic spine 5

NB01 Injury of peripheral nerves of thorax

NB02 Injury of thoracic sympathetic nerves

NB30.0 Injury of thoracic aorta 1

NB30.1 Injury of innominate or subclavian artery 5
NB30.2 Injury of superior vena cava 1
NB30.3 Injury of innominate or subclavian vein 3
NB30.4 Injury of pulmonary blood vessels 1
NB30.5 Injury of intercostal blood vessels 4
NB30.6 Injury of multiple blood vessels of thorax 3
NB30 Injury of blood vessels of thorax 4
NB30 Injury of blood vessels of thorax 4
NB31.0 Injury of heart with haemopericardium 3
NB31 Injury of heart 2
NB32.0 Traumatic pneumothorax 3
NB32.1 Traumatic haemothorax

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Code Rank
NB32.2 Traumatic haemopneumothorax

NB32.3 Certain injuries of lung 2

NB32.4 Injury of bronchus

NB32.5 Injury of thoracic trachea

NB32.6 Injury of pleura 4

NB32.7 Multiple injuries of intrathoracic organs 1
NB32 Injury of other or unspecified intrathoracic organs 2
NB33.0 Crushed chest 3
NB33.2 Traumatic amputation of other part of thorax

NB34 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon at thorax level 6

NB35 Multiple injuries of thorax 3
NA80-NB3Z Injuries to the thorax 6
NA80-NB3Z Injuries to the thorax 3
NB50 Superficial injury of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 6
NB51 Open wound of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 6
NB51 Open wound of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 5
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
NB52.0 Fracture of lumbar vertebra 6
NB52.10 Fracture of sacrum without disruption of pelvic ring

NB52.11 Fracture of coccyx

NB52.12 Fracture of ilium without disruption of pelvic ring

NB52.13 Fracture of acetabulum without disruption of pelvic ring 5

NB52.14 Fracture of pubis without disruption of pelvic ring 6
NB52.4 Multiple fractures of lumbar spine or pelvis 5

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Code Rank
NB53.0 Traumatic rupture of lumbar intervertebral disc 6
NB53.1 Dislocation of lumbar vertebra

NB53.2 Dislocation of sacroiliac or sacrococcygeal joint without disruption of

pelvic ring

NB53.3 Dislocation of other or unspecified parts of lumbar spine or pelvis

without disruption of pelvic ring
5

NB53.4 Traumatic rupture of symphysis pubis without disruption of pelvic ring 6

NB53.5 Strain or sprain of lumbar spine

NB53.6 Strain or sprain of sacroiliac joint

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
NB60 Concussion or oedema of lumbar spinal cord 6
NB62 Certain specified injuries of lumbar spinal cord

NB70 Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine

NB72 Injury of cauda equina

NB73 Injury of lumbosacral plexus

NB74 Injury of lumbar, sacral or pelvic sympathetic nerves

NB75 Injury of peripheral nerve of abdomen, lower back or pelvis

NB70-NB7Z Injury of nerves at abdomen, lower back or pelvis level 5

NB90.0 Injury of abdominal aorta 1
NB90.1 Injury of inferior vena cava

NB90.2 Injury of coeliac artery 3

NB90.4 Injury of portal or splenic vein 2
NB90.5 Injury of renal blood vessels 5
NB90.6 Injury of iliac blood vessels 3
NB90.7 Injury of multiple blood vessels at abdomen, lower back or pelvis level 2
NB90 Injury of blood vessels at abdomen, lower back or pelvis level 5

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Code Rank
NB91 Injury of intra-abdominal organs 3
NB92 Injury of urinary or pelvic organs 5
NB93.0 Crushing injury of external genital organs 6
NB93.1 Crushing injury of other or unspecified parts of abdomen, lower back or
pelvis 5

NB93.2 Traumatic amputation of external genital organs 4

NB93.3 Traumatic amputation of other or unspecified parts of abdomen, lower
back or pelvis 3

NB94 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 6

NB95 Injury of intra-abdominal organ with pelvic organ 3
NB96 Other multiple injuries of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 4
NB97 Certain specified injuries of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 6
NB50 Superficial injury of abdomen, lower back or pelvis 4
NC10 Superficial injury of shoulder or upper arm 6
NC11 Open wound of shoulder or upper arm 6
NC11.5 Multiple open wounds of shoulder or upper arm

NC11 Open wound of shoulder or upper arm 5

NC12.0 Fracture of clavicle 6
NC12.1 Fracture of scapula 5
NC12.2 Fracture of upper end of humerus

NC12.3 Fracture of shaft of humerus 5

NC12.4 Fracture of lower end of humerus 6
NC12.5 Multiple fractures of clavicle, scapula or humerus 5
NC12.6 Fracture of other parts of shoulder or upper arm

NC12.7 Fracture of shoulder girdle, part unspecified 5

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Code Rank
NC13 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments of shoulder girdle 6
NC14 Injury of nerves at shoulder or upper arm level 6
NC15.0 Injury of axillary artery 3
NC15.1 Injury of brachial artery

NC15.2 Injury of axillary or brachial vein 5

NC15.3 Injury of superficial vein at shoulder or upper arm level

NC15.4 Injury of multiple blood vessels at shoulder or upper arm level

NC15 Injury of blood vessels at shoulder or upper arm level

NC16 Injury of muscle, fascia, tendon or bursa at shoulder or upper arm level 6
NC17 Crushing injury of shoulder or upper arm 5
NC18 Traumatic amputation of shoulder or upper arm 3
NC19 Multiple injuries of shoulder or upper arm 5
NC10-NC1Z Injuries to the shoulder or upper arm 6
NC30 Superficial injury of forearm 6
NC31 Open wound of forearm 6
NC32 Fracture of forearm 5
NC33 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments of elbow 6
NC34 Injury of nerves at forearm level 6
NC35.0 Injury of ulnar artery at forearm level 6
NC35 Injury of blood vessels at forearm level 5
NC36 Injury of muscle, fascia, tendon or bursa at forearm level 6
NC37 Crushing injury of forearm 6
NC38 Traumatic amputation of forearm 4
NC38.0 Traumatic amputation at right elbow level

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Code Rank
NC38.1 Traumatic amputation at left elbow level

NC39 Multiple injuries of forearm 4

NC36.4 Injury of extensor muscle, fascia or tendon of other finger at forearm
level
6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
NC51 Superficial injury of wrist or hand 6
NC52 Open wound of wrist or hand 6
[] 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
NC54 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments at wrist or hand level 6
NC55 Injury of nerves at wrist or hand level 6
NC56.0 Injury of ulnar artery at wrist or hand level 6
NC56.1 Injury of radial artery at wrist or hand level 5
NC56.2 Injury of superficial palmar arch 6
NC56.3 Injury of deep palmar arch

NC56.4 Injury of blood vessel of thumb

NC56.5 Injury of blood vessel of other finger

NC56.6 Injury of multiple blood vessels at wrist or hand level

NC56 Injury of blood vessels at wrist or hand level 5

NC57 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon at wrist or hand level 6
NC58 Crushing injury of wrist or hand 6
NC59.0 Traumatic amputation of thumb 6
NC59.1 Traumatic amputation of other single finger

NC59.2 Traumatic amputation of two or more fingers alone

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Code Rank
NC59.3 Combined traumatic amputation of finger with other parts of wrist or
hand

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 4

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5
NC70 Superficial injury of hip or thigh 6
NC71 Open wound of hip or thigh 6
NC72.2 Fracture of neck of femur 3
NC72.3 Fracture of trochanteric section of femur

NC72.4 Subtrochanteric fracture of femur

[] 4
NC73 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joint or ligaments of hip 6
NC74.0 Injury of sciatic nerve at hip or thigh level 6
NC74.1 Injury of femoral nerve at hip or thigh level

NC74.2 Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at hip or thigh level 5

NC74.3 Injury of multiple nerves at hip or thigh level

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
NC75.0 Injury of femoral artery 4
NC75.1 Injury of femoral vein at hip or thigh level 5
NC75.2 Injury of greater saphenous vein at hip or thigh level 6
NC75.3 Injury of multiple blood vessels at hip or thigh level 5
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
NC75 Injury of blood vessels at hip or thigh level 5
NC76 Injury of muscle, fascia, tendon or bursa at hip or thigh level 6
NC77 Crushing injury of hip or thigh 5

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Code Rank
NC78 Traumatic amputation of hip or thigh 3
NC78.0 Traumatic amputation at right hip joint

NC78.1 Traumatic amputation at left hip joint

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

NC90 Superficial injury of knee or lower leg 6
NC91 Open wound of knee or lower leg 6
NC92 Fracture of lower leg, including ankle 5
NC93 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments of knee 6
NC94 Injury of nerves at lower leg level 6
NC95.0 Injury of popliteal artery 5
NC95.1 Injury of anterior tibial artery 6
NC95.3 Injury of peroneal artery

NC95.4 Injury of greater saphenous vein at lower leg level 5

NC95.5 Injury of lesser saphenous vein at lower leg level 6
NC95.6 Injury of popliteal vein

NC95.7 Injury of multiple blood vessels at lower leg level 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
NC95 Injury of blood vessels at lower leg level 5
NC96.0 Injury of Achilles tendon 6
NC96.1 Injury of other muscle, fascia or tendon of posterior muscle group at
lower leg level 5

NC96 Injury of muscle, fascia, tendon or bursa at lower leg level 6

NC97.0 Crushing injury of knee 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

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Code Rank
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

TO BE COMPLETED –> 4
NC90-NC9Z Injuries to the knee or lower leg 5
ND11 Superficial injury of ankle or foot 6
ND12 Open wound of ankle or foot 6
ND13 Fracture of foot, except ankle 6
ND14 Dislocation or strain or sprain of joints or ligaments at ankle or foot level 6
ND15 Injury of nerves at ankle or foot level 6
ND16.0 Injury of dorsal artery of foot 6
ND16.1 Injury of plantar artery of foot 5
[] 6
ND17 Injury of muscle, fascia or tendon at ankle or foot level 6
ND18 Crushing injury of ankle or foot 6
ND18.1 Crushing injury of toe 5
ND18.2 Crushing injury of other parts of ankle or foot 6
ND19.0 Traumatic amputation of right foot at ankle level 4
ND19.0 Traumatic amputation of right foot at ankle level

ND19.1 Traumatic amputation of left foot at ankle level

ND19.6 Traumatic amputation of one toe 6

ND19.7 Traumatic amputation of two or more toes

ND19.8 Traumatic amputation of other parts of foot

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 4

ND10-ND1Z Injuries to the ankle or foot 5

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Code Rank
ND30 Superficial injuries involving multiple body regions 6
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 4
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

ND33 Dislocations, strains or sprains involving multiple body regions 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 4
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 4
ND34 Crushing injuries involving multiple body regions 5
ND35 Traumatic amputations involving multiple body regions 3
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3
[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

ND36 Other injuries involving multiple body regions, not elsewhere classified 3
ND36 Other injuries involving multiple body regions, not elsewhere classified 5
ND37 Unspecified multiple injuries 2
ND50 Fracture of spine, level unspecified 5
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 5
ND51.0 Dislocation or strain or sprain of unspecified joint or ligament of trunk 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 3
ND51.1 Injury of unspecified nerve, spinal nerve root or plexus of trunk 4
ND51.3 Injury of unspecified muscle, fascia or tendon of trunk 6
TO BE COMPLETED –> 1
ND51 Other injuries of spine or trunk, level unspecified 5
ND52 Fracture of arm, level unspecified 5
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 6
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 6

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Code Rank
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 5
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 4
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 6
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 3
ND53 Other injuries of arm, level unspecified 5
ND54 Fracture of leg, level unspecified 5
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 6
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 5
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 6
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 3
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 4
ND55 Other injuries of leg, level unspecified 5
ND56.0 Superficial injury of unspecified body region 6
ND56.1 Open wound of unspecified body region 5
ND56.2 Fracture of unspecified body region 5
ND56.3 Dislocation or strain or sprain of unspecified body region 6
ND56.4 Injury of nerve of unspecified body region

ND56.5 Injury of blood vessel of unspecified body region 5

ND56.6 Injury of muscles or tendons of unspecified body region 6
ND56.8 Traumatic amputation of unspecified body region 2

ND56 Injury of unspecified body region 6

ND70.0 Foreign body in cornea 6

ND70.1 Foreign body in conjunctival sac

ND70.2 Foreign body in multiple parts of external eye

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Code Rank
ND70 Foreign body on external eye 5

ND71 Foreign body in ear 6

ND72 Foreign body in respiratory tract 5

ND73.0 Foreign body in mouth 6

ND73.1 Foreign body in oesophagus

ND73.2 Foreign body in stomach

ND73.3 Foreign body in small intestine 5

ND73.4 Foreign body in colon

ND73.5 Foreign body in anus or rectum 6

ND74.0 Foreign body in urethra 6

ND74.1 Foreign body in bladder

ND74.2 Foreign body in vulva or vagina 5

ND74.3 Foreign body in uterus, any part 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

NE01 Burn of respiratory tract 3

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 3

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

NE10-NE11 Burns of multiple or unspecified body regions 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

NE10-NE11 Burns of multiple or unspecified body regions 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

NE11 Burn of unspecified body region 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

XJ4PF Burns involving less than 10% of body surface 5

XJ257 Burns involving 10-19% of body surface

XJ5GA Burns involving 20-29% of body surface 4

XJ7ZW Burns involving 30-39% of body surface 3

XJ3R2 Burns involving 40-49% of body surface 2

XJ19C Burns involving 50-59% of body surface

XJ4B7 Burns involving 60-69% of body surface

XJ7F7 Burns involving 70-79% of body surface 1

XJ1HD Burns involving 80-89% of body surface

XJ9JX Burns involving 90% or more of body surface

XJ4PF Burns involving less than 10% of body surface 5

XJ257 Burns involving 10-19% of body surface

XJ5GA Burns involving 20-29% of body surface 4

XJ7ZW Burns involving 30-39% of body surface 3

XJ3R2 Burns involving 40-49% of body surface 2

XJ19C Burns involving 50-59% of body surface

XJ4B7 Burns involving 60-69% of body surface 3

XJ7F7 Burns involving 70-79% of body surface 1

XJ1HD Burns involving 80-89% of body surface

XJ9JX Burns involving 90% or more of body surface

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Code Rank
NE40 Superficial frostbite 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

NE41 Frostbite with tissue necrosis 5

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ]

NE42 Frostbite involving multiple body regions 6

NE42 Frostbite involving multiple body regions 4

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

NE42 Frostbite involving multiple body regions 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

NF01.0 Heat stroke 3

NF01.1 Heat syncope 6

NF01.2 Heat exhaustion due to fluid depletion

NF01.2 Heat exhaustion due to fluid depletion 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

MG29.10 Oedema due to increased capillary pressure 2

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

NF02 Hypothermia 3

NF03.1 Immersion hand or foot 6

NF03.0 Chilblains 5

NF03 Other effects of reduced temperature 4

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 4

NF04.0 Otitic barotrauma 5

NF04.1 Sinus barotrauma 4

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

NF04.2 Caisson disease 5

NF04.3 Effects of high-pressure fluids 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

NF05 Asphyxiation 1

NF07.0 Effects of hunger 3

NF07.1 Effects of thirst 5

NF07.2 Exhaustion due to exposure 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

[!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS ] 6

NF08.0 Effects of lightning 4

NF08.1 Drowning or nonfatal submersion 2

NF08.2 Effects of vibration 6

NF08.3 Motion sickness

NF08.4 Effects of electric current 3

NF00-NF0Z Other or unspecified effects of external causes 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 4

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

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Code Rank
TO BE COMPLETED –> 1

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 5

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6

TO BE COMPLETED –> 3

TO BE COMPLETED –> 1

TO BE COMPLETED –> 6
2.23.11 List of categories limited to, or more likely to occur in, female persons
Pending final code update

2.23.12 List of categories limited to, or more likely to occur in, male persons
 Mumps 1D80
 Prepuce XA71S4
 Glans penis XA0MH6
 Body of penis XA9A26
 Overlapping lesion of penis 2C81.Z
 Penis, unspecified 2C81
 Malignant neoplasm of prostate 2C82
 Undescended testis 2C80
 Descended testis 2C80.Z
 Testis, unspecified 2C80
 Epididymis 2C84
 Spermatic cord 2C84
 Scrotum 2C83
 Other specified male genital organs 2C84
 Overlapping lesion of male genital organs 2C84
 Male genital organs, unspecified 2C8Z
 Penis 2E67.4

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 Prostate 2E67.5
 Other and unspecified male genital organs 2E67.6
 Benign lipomatous neoplasm of spermatic cord 2F34
 Penis 2F34
 Prostate GA90
 Testis 2F34
 Epididymis 2F34
 Scrotum 2F34
 Other male genital organs 2F34
 Male genital organ, unspecified 2F34
 Prostate 2F77
 Testis 2F77
 Other male genital organs 2F77
 Male genital organ, unspecified 2F77
 Testicular hyperfunction 5A81.0
 Testicular hypofunction 5A81.1
 Other Testicular hypofunction 5A81.1
 Testicular hypofunction, unspecified 5A81
 Ectopic hormone secretion, not elsewhere 5D45
 Premature ejaculation HA03.0
 Aortic valve disorders in diseases classified elsewhere BD75.1
 Pruritus scroti GA81.0
 Disorder of urinary system, unspecified GA90
 Acute prostatitis GA91
 Chronic prostatitis GA91.0
 Abscess of prostate GA91.1
 Prostatocystitis GA91.2
 Other inflammatory diseases of prostate GA91
 Inflammatory disease of prostate, unspecified GA91
 Calculus of prostate GA91.3
 Congestion and haemorrhage of prostate GA91.4
 Atrophy of prostate GA91.5
 Dysplasia of prostate GA91.6
 Other specified disorders of prostate GA91.Y
 Disorder of prostate, unspecified GA91.Z
 Encysted hydrocele GB00.0
 Infected hydrocele GB00.1
 Other hydrocele GB00
 Hydrocele, unspecified GB00
 Spermatocele GB00.2
 Torsion of testis GB01.0
 Orchitis, epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis with abscess GB02.0
 Orchitis, epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis without abscess GB02
 Male infertility GB04
 Redundant prepuce, phimosis and paraphimosis GB05
 Leukoplakia of penis EB60.1
 Balanoposthitis GB06.0
 Other inflammatory disorders of penis GB06
 Priapism GB06.1
 Impotence of organic origin HA01.1
 Ulcer of penis GA80

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 Balanitis xerotica obliterans EB60.1

 Other specified disorders of penis GB06
 Disorder of penis, unspecified GB06
 Inflammatory disorders of seminal vesicle GB07.0
 Inflammatory disorders of spermatic cord, tunica vaginalis and vas deferens
GB07.1
 Inflammatory disorders of scrotum GB07.2
 Inflammatory disorders of other specified male genital organs GB07.Y
 Inflammatory disorder of unspecified male genital organs GB07
 Atrophy of testis GB03
 Vascular disorders of male genital organs GB08
 Other specified disorders of male genital organs GB0Y
 Disorder of male genital organs, unspecified GB0Z
 Disorders of male genital organs in diseases classified elsewhere GB0Z
 Disorders of prostate in diseases classified elsewhere []
 Disorders of testis and epididymis in diseases classified elsewhere GB06.00
 Balanitis in diseases classified elsewhere GB06.0
 Ectopic testis LB52.0
 Undescended testicle, unilateral LB52.1
 Undescended testicle, bilateral LB52.2
 Undescended testicle, unspecified LB52
 Hypospadias, balanic LB53.0
 Hypospadias, penile LB53.1
 Hypospadias, penoscrotal LB53.2
 Hypospadias, perineal LB53.4
 Congenital chordee LB54
 Other hypospadias LB53
 Hypospadias, unspecified LB53
 Absence and aplasia of testis LB51
 Hypoplasia of testis and scrotum LB59
 Other congenital malformations of testis and scrotum LB50-LB5Z
 Atresia of vas deferens LB57
 Other congenital malformations of vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles
and prostate LB50-LB5Z
 Congenital absence and aplasia of penis LB50
 Other congenital malformations of penis [Error! ]
 Other specified congenital malformations of male genital organs LB5Y
 Congenital malformation of male genital organ, unspecified LB5Z
 Klinefelter’s syndrome karyotype 47,XXY LD50.30
 Klinefelter’s syndrome, male with more than two X chromosomes LD50.31
 Klinefelter’s syndrome, male with 46,XX karyotype LD40-LD7Z
 Other male with 46,XX karyotype LD52.0
 Klinefelter’s syndrome, unspecified LD50.3
 Karyotype 47,XYY LD52.1
 Male with structurally abnormal sex chromosome LD53
 Male with sex chromosome mosaicism LD54
 Other specified sex chromosome abnormalities, male phenotype LD53
 Sex chromosome abnormality, male phenotype, unspecified LD53
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF70
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF71
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF72

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 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF73

 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF74
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF75
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF76
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF77
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs MF78
 Abnormal findings in specimens from male genital organs
 Open wound of penis NB51
 Open wound of scrotum and testes NB51
 Special screening examination for neoplasm of prostate QA09.5
2.23.13 List of rehabilitation-relevant health conditions for which a tailored set of
functioning properties is available
 Acute myocardial infarction BA41
 Alzheimer and other dementias 6D85
 Amputation (traumatic amputations involving multiple body regions) ND35
 Amyotrophic diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) 8B60.0
 Ankylosing spondylitis and other spondylopathies FA92.0
 Asthma CA23
 Benign prostatic hypertrophy GA90
 Bipolar affective disorder 6A60.9
 Birth asphyxia and birth trauma KA40-KA4Z
 Bladder cancer 2C94
 Brain injury (traumatic brain injury or acquired brain injury) NA07
 Breast cancer 2C60-2C6Z
 Cerebral palsy 8D20-8D2Z
 Cerebrovascular disease incl. stroke 8B00-8B2Z
 Cervix uteri cancer 2C77
 Chagas disease 1F53
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CA22
 Cleft lip LA40
 Cleft palate LA42
 Colon and rectum cancers 2B92
 Complex regional pain syndrome 8D8A.0
 Congenital heart anomalies LA80-LA8Z
 Corpus uteri cancer 2C76
 Depression 6A70-6A7Z
 Diabetes mellitus 5A10-5A2Y
 Down syndrome LD40.0
 Drug use disorders 6C40-6C4Z
 Endocrine disorders 5A00-5B3Z
 Epilepsy 8A60-8A6Z
 Fracture of femur NC72
 Fracture of lower leg, including ankle NC92
 Fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis NB52
 Gout FA25
 Haemophilia 3B10
 Hand conditions
 Hearing loss, adult onset AB54
 Heart failure BD10-BD1Z
 HIV/AIDS 1C60-1C62.Z
 Hypertensive heart disease BA01

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 Impingement syndrome FB53.1

 Inflammatory Bowel Disease DD70-DD7Z
 Ischaemic heart diseases BA40-BA6Z
 Japanese Encephalitis 1C85
 Leishmaniasis 1F54
 Leprosy and sequelae of leprosy 1B20
 Leukaemia XH4S92-XH5J10
 Liver cancer 2C12
 Low back pain (dorsalgia) ME84.2
 Low birth weight KA21
 Lower limbs fractures ND54
 Lower respiratory infections CA40-CA4Z
 Lymphatic filariasis 1F66.3
 Lymphomas and multiple myeloma 2B33.5
 Macular degeneration and other sense disorders 9B75
 Malaria 1F40-1F4Z
 Melanoma and other skin cancers 2C30-2C3Z
 Meningitis 1D01
 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 6C40
 Mild mental retardation attributable to lead exposure (unspecified mental
retardation) 6A00.0
 Mouth and oropharynx cancers 2B60-2B6Z
 Movement disorders (e.g. ataxia, , hemiplegia, dysdiadochokinesia) 8A00-8A0Z
 Multiple sclerosis 8A40
 Muscle dystrophy 8C70
 Musculoskeletal pain syndrome (fibromyalgia, entrapment/ mononeuropathies)
8C10-8C1Z
 Myopathies 8C70-8C7Z
 Nephritis and nephrosis GB41
 Neuropathies 8C00-8C0Z
 Obesity 5B81
 Oesophageal atresia LB12.1
 Oesophagus cancer 2B70
 Onchocerciasis 1F6A
 Osteoarthritis FA00-FA0Z
 Osteoporosis FB83.1
 Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified ? –>
 Other neurotic conditions ? –>
 Ovary cancer 2C73
 Pancreas cancer 2C10
 Parkinson disease 8A00.0
 Poliomyelitis and sequelae of poliomyelitis 1C81
 Post-traumatic stress disorder 6B40
 Prostate cancer 2C82
 Protein-energy malnutrition 5B51
 Pulmonary hypertension BB01
 Renal failure GB60-GB6Z
 Rheumatic heart disease BC20.1
 Rheumatoid arthritis FA20
 Schizophrenia 6A20
 Scleroderma, dermatomyositis 4A41.0

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 Skin diseases e.g. psoriasis, decubitus ulcer and pressure area, other disorders
of skin & subcutaneous tissue not elsewhere classified [14]
 Sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, insomnia, circadian
rhythm sleep-wake disorder, restless legs) [07]
 Spina bifida LA02
 Spinal cord injury ND51
 Stomach cancer 2B72
 Syphilis 1A60-1A6Z
 Tetanus 1C13
 Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers 2C25
 Tuberculosis and sequelae of tuberculosis 1B10-1B1Z
 Upper limbs fractures ND52
 Vertebral fractures ND50
 Vertigo MB48.0
2.24 Main Uses of the ICD: Morbidity
Morbidity data are used for statistical reporting mostly at national or local levels. While
some of this statistical reporting is conducted within an academic research context, it is
commonly conducted in applied settings to inform health system and public health
agency decision- making. ICD coded data also forms the basis of different casemix
systems such as different varieties of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs). Coded
morbidity data can also be used to inform a variety of clinical guidelines through
provision of foundational information on burden of disease. The rules given here are
primarily for international reporting and analysing purposes but are also recommended
as a standard for national use.

2.24.1 What is coded: Conditions of patient

The health care practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment is also responsible
for documenting the patient’s health conditions. This information should be organised
systematically by using standard recording methods. A properly completed record is
essential for good patient management. It is also an essential prerequisite to the
creation of a valid coded record of patient diagnoses, derived through a coding process
from written information describing a patient’s medical condition. When a good written
record of patient conditions is available, successful coding of this information in ICD
and associated classifications produces a valuable source of epidemiological and other
statistical data on morbidity and other health care problems.

The person transforming the information on the stated condition to codes (the ‘coder’)
may be the health care practitioner or a clinical coder who is not responsible for the
patient’s treatment. In the latter situation, which is quite common among member
countries, the coder depends on the adequacy of clinical documentation of patient
condition by health care practitioners in the medical record. The primary importance of
clinical documentation by health care practitioners as the starting point for coded health
data cannot be overstated and needs to be underlined as being a matter of key
importance within countries and internationally – with implications for health information
and clinical documentation teaching within health care practitioner training programs.

For clinical and resource allocation purposes, in many instances, the manifestation of a
disease (kind and severity, e.g. ulcer grade 3) may be more relevant during a specific
treatment episode than the underlying disease (e.g. Diabetes mellitus). For prevention

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programs at national levels, knowledge about the underlying aetiology may be more
important. Quality and safety will require reporting additional detail related to the stay.
For comprehensive analysis and use of morbidity data, it is crucial to have a dataset
with multiple fields covering all the aspects above.

[Link] Health care practitioner documentation guidelines for morbidity

coding
Morbidity data are increasingly being used in the formulation of health policies and
programs, and in their management, monitoring and evaluation, in epidemiology, in
identification of risk populations, and in clinical research (including studies of disease
occurrence in different socioeconomic groups).

In the context of these morbidity coding rules, the term practitioner is used throughout
the morbidity rules to mean physician or any qualified health care practitioner who is
legally accountable for establishing the patient’s diagnosis. This information should be
organised systematically by using standard recording methods. A properly completed
record is essential for good patient management and is a valuable source of
epidemiological and other statistical data on morbidity and other health-care problems.

The term episode is used for all settings, including hospital admissions. It is
acknowledged that the definition may be different in each country, though it is most
often considered to be a continuous hospital care period, which begins on the first day
of a patient’s admission to a health care facility and ends on the day upon which they
are discharged from that facility. Some countries consider sequential care periods on
different wards within the same hospital to be distinct episodes of care.

[Link] Health care practitioner documentation principles related to

morbidity coding
The health care practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment is also responsible
for documenting the patient’s health conditions during an episode of health care. Good
clinical documentation is critical to continuity and quality of patient care, patient safety
and is the legal record of a patient’s episode of care. When a sound written record of
patient condition(s) is available, successful coding of this information using the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and associated classifications produces a
valuable source of morbidity data to support:

 Health care planning, management, monitoring and evaluation

 Epidemiology
 Identification of risk populations
 Clinical research
 Reimbursement and health care funding.

The health care practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment should select and
document the main condition, as well as any other conditions, for each episode of
health care. It is recommended, where practicable, to document all conditions to
support multiple condition coding and analysis to supplement routine data collection
and reporting.

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Main condition

The definition of main condition relates to describing an episode of hospital-based care.

Record/identify as the main condition the one condition that is determined to be the
reason for admission, established at the end of the episode of health care.

Multiple conditions contributing to need for admission

Where an episode of health care concerns more than one condition contributing to the
need for admission (e.g. congestive heart failure and pneumonia; acute cerebral
haemorrhage and hip fracture; multiple injuries - concussion, rib fracture, right femur
fracture after MVA; or influenza A and Type 1 diabetic ketoacidosis), the health care
practitioner should record/identify the main condition to be the one condition that is
deemed to be most clinically significant reason for admission.

Documenting Guidelines involving the term ‘Multiple’-For Single condition reporting

In cases involving, for example, ‘multiple fractures’, ‘multiple head injuries’ or ‘multiple
valvular disease’, it is acceptable documentation practice to record the diagnoses using
the term ‘multiple’ and then list separately the specific conditions or injuries. For
example: Multiple fractures of pelvis: fracture of os pubis, sacrum, ilium.

Other conditions

In addition to the main condition, the health care practitioner should, whenever
possible, also list separately all other conditions or problems dealt with during the
episode of health care. Other conditions are defined as those conditions that coexist or
develop during the episode of health care and affect the management of the patient.
Conditions related to an earlier episode that have no bearing on the current episode
should not be recorded as other conditions. It is recommended, where practicable, to
carry out multiple-condition coding and analysis to supplement the routine data.

Specificity and detail

Each diagnostic statement should be as informative as possible in order for the clinical
coder to classify the condition to condition to a code that best captures the specific
detail provided in the diagnostic statement. Examples of such diagnostic statements
include:

 transitional cell carcinoma of trigone of bladder

 acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis
 meningococcal pericarditis
 pregnancy-induced hypertension
 diplopia due to reaction to antihistamine taken as prescribed
 osteoarthritis of hip due to an old hip fracture
 fracture of neck of femur following a fall at home
 full thickness burn of palm of left hand due to grilling accident
 unintentional puncture of the sigmoid colon during colonoscopy

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Unconfirmed diagnoses

If no definite diagnosis has been established at the end of an episode of health care,
then the health care practitioner should document the information that permits the
greatest degree of specificity and knowledge about the reason for admission
established at the end of the episode of care. This could be a symptom, abnormal
finding or problem. Rather than qualifying a diagnosis as “possible”, or “suspected”,
when a diagnosis has been considered but not established, when applicable, record
the symptom, abnormal finding or problem.

Documentation of a ruled out condition

The health care practitioner should document as main condition a “ruled out” condition
when the episode of care involves a person who presents some symptoms or evidence
of an abnormal condition which requires study, but who, after examination and
observation, show no need for further treatment, follow-up or other medical care.

The health care practitioner should not document a ruled out condition as a main
condition if some treatment was provided for a symptom or follow-up is required to
determine the cause of the sign or symptom. In that instance, the health care
practitioner should document the presenting sign or symptom that was treated as the
main condition.

Example 1

Admitted for suspected deep vein thrombosis of leg, which after investigation is ruled
out and no follow-up necessary.

Main Condition: Ruled out deep vein thrombosis.

Example 2

A child is found playing with an empty acetaminophen bottle. The mother is uncertain if
there were any tablets in the bottle. The child is brought to the hospital and following
investigation, it is determined that the child did not ingest any pills

Main condition: Ruled out unintentional ingestion acetaminophen (paracetamol)

Example 3

A patient had an elevated PSA and presented for biopsy of the prostate. Biopsy
revealed no evidence of malignancy. No further follow-up planned for the patient.

Main condition: Ruled out prostate malignancy

Contact with health services for reasons other than illness

Episodes of health care or contact with health services are not restricted to
identification, treatment or investigation of current illness or injury. Episodes may also
occur when someone who may not currently be sick requires or receives limited care or

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services; the health care practitioner should document the details of the relevant
circumstances as the ‘main condition’.

Examples include:

 monitoring of previously treated conditions

 immunization
 contraceptive management, antenatal and postpartum care
 surveillance of persons at risk because of personal or family history
 examinations of healthy persons, e.g. for insurance or occupational reasons
 seeking of health-related advice
 requests for advice by persons with social problems
 consultation on behalf of a third party
 donors
 circumstances related to drugs, procedures, or devices without documented
injury or harm to patient

Chapter 24 Factors influencing health status and contact with health services provides
a broad range of categories for classifying these circumstances. Reference to this
chapter will give an indication of the detail required to permit classification to the most
relevant category.

Conditions due to external causes

When a condition such as an injury, poisoning or other effect of external causes is

recorded, it is important to document fully both the nature of the condition and the
circumstances that gave rise to it. For example:

 ‘fracture of neck of femur caused by fall due to slipping on pavement’

 ‘cerebral contusion caused when patient lost control of car, which hit a tree’
 ‘unintentional poisoning, patient drank disinfectant in mistake for soft drink’
 ‘severe hypothermia, patient fell in her garden in cold weather’

See also Section [Link] Causation in the context of quality and safety.

Documentation of sequelae

Where an episode of care is for the treatment or investigation of a residual condition

(sequela) of a disease that is no longer present, the health care practitioner should
document the residual condition (sequela) and its origin, together with a clear indication
that the original disease is no longer present. For example:

 ‘deflected nasal septum– fracture of nose in childhood’

 ‘contracture of Achilles tendon – late effect of injury to tendon’
 ‘infertility due to tubal occlusion from old tuberculosis’.

Where multiple sequelae are present and treatment or investigation is not directed
predominantly at one of them, a documented statement such as ‘sequelae of
cerebrovascular accident’ or ‘sequelae of multiple fractures’ is acceptable.

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[Link] Coder guidelines for selecting ‘main condition’ and ‘other

conditions’ for coding purposes
The main condition and other condition(s) relevant to an episode of health care should
have been recorded/identified by the responsible health-care practitioner, and coding
will therefore usually be straightforward. The main condition recorded should be
accepted for coding and reporting unless it is obvious that the health-care practitioner
did not follow the guidelines for recording diagnostic information for morbidity data
analysis. Whenever possible, a record with an obviously inconsistent or incorrectly
recorded main condition should be returned to the health care practitioner for
clarification.

If clarification of potential erroneous documentation is not possible, one of the following

rules can be applied by the clinical coder and the main condition reselected for
reporting purposes. The rules are for use when the coder may be unclear as to which
recorded condition should be selected as the main condition for reporting purposes.

 MB1 Several conditions recorded as ‘main condition’; or

 MB2 Presenting symptom of diagnosed condition recorded as ‘main condition;
or
 MB3 Signs and symptoms recorded as ‘main condition’ with alternative
conditions recorded as the cause

[Link] Coder rules for reselection when the main condition is

incorrectly recorded
Certain circumstances, or the availability of other information, may indicate that the
health care practitioner has not followed the correct procedure for recording the ‘main
condition’. In such a case, clarification from the responsible health care practitioner
should be the first step by the clinical coder. When this is not possible, the clinical
coder can use one of the following rules to support reselecting the ‘main condition’ for
reporting purposes.

Coder rules for reselection of main condition

If several different conditions (that cannot be classified to a single stem code) are
recorded as the ‘main condition’, and other details on the record point to one of them
being the ‘main condition’ (one condition determined to be the reason for admission
established at the end of the episode of care), select that condition; otherwise, select
the condition first recorded.

If there is the desire to also report other discharge diagnosis types i.e. main resource
condition or initial reason for encounter or admission, then the applicable extension
code(s) from Chapter X ‘Extension codes’, should be assigned to indicate the different
types of discharge diagnosis types that are reported.

Example 1:

A patient was admitted with complaints of fever, chills, severe headache and stiff neck.
Following investigation, a diagnosis of staphylococcal meningitis was confirmed. While
in hospital the patient developed pneumonia.

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Main condition: Staphylococcal meningitis. Pneumonia

Two conditions have been recorded as the main condition and querying the health care
practitioner is not possible. The details in the example point to staphylococcal
meningitis as the one condition being the reason for admission established at the end
of the episode of care; therefore, the coder should code staphylococcal meningitis as
the ‘main condition’. Pneumonia is coded as an ‘other condition’.

Example 2:

A patient who has a history of COPD was admitted for a biopsy of the prostate. Patient
was evaluated for COPD. Biopsy was performed and the final diagnosis from pathology
results was benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Main condition: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hypertrophy of

prostate.

Two conditions have been recorded as the main condition and querying the health care
practitioner is not possible. The details in the example point to benign prostatic
hypertrophy as the one condition being the reason for admission established at the end
of the episode of care; therefore, the coder should code hypertrophy of prostate as the
‘main condition’. COPD is coded as an ‘other condition’ as the physician documented it
and it affected the management of the patient.

Example 3:

A patient presents to hospital at 35 weeks gestation with spontaneous premature

rupture of membranes. She is not having any contractions. Examination reveals the
baby is in breech presentation; therefore, delivery by caesarean section is
recommended. Mother delivers healthy preterm infant by caesarean section.

Main condition: Premature rupture of membranes. Breech presentation.

Procedure: Delivery by caesarean section

Two conditions have been recorded as the main condition and querying the health care
practitioner is not possible. The details in the example point to premature rupture of
membranes as the one condition being the reason for admission established at the end
of the episode of care; therefore, the coder should code premature rupture of
membranes as the ‘main condition’ and breech presentation and preterm delivery as an
‘other condition’.

Example 4:

A patient is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure.

Main condition: Pneumonia and Congestive Heart Failure.

Two conditions have been recorded as the main condition and querying the health care
practitioner is not possible. There are no other details on the record to point to one of
the conditions as being the main condition, therefore, in this instance, the coder should

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report the first listed condition as the main condition. Pneumonia is coded as the ‘main
condition’ and congestive heart failure is coded as an ‘other condition’.

If a symptom or sign (usually classifiable to Chapter 21 Symptoms, signs or clinical

findings, not elsewhere classified), or a problem classifiable to Chapter 24 Factors
influencing health status or contact with health services, is recorded as the ‘main
condition’, and this is obviously the presenting sign, symptom or problem of a
diagnosed condition recorded elsewhere and care was given for the latter, reselect the
diagnosed condition as the ‘main condition’.

Example 1:

The patient presents to hospital with complaint of haematuria. Investigations reveal a

papilloma in the posterior wall of the bladder as the cause of the haematuria. The
papilloma was excised by diathermy.

Main condition: Haematuria

Other conditions: Papillomata of posterior wall of bladder

Haematuria (symptom) is recorded as the main condition; however, it was determined

to be caused by the papillomata of the bladder (diagnosed and treated condition).
Therefore, the coder should reselect and code papillomata of posterior wall of bladder
as the ‘main condition’.

Example 2:

The patient presents to hospital with abdominal pain. Investigations reveal acute
appendicitis and the patient undergoes an appendectomy.

Main condition: Abdominal pain

Other conditions: Acute appendicitis

The symptom ‘abdominal pain’ was recorded as the main condition; however, it was
determined to be caused by appendicitis. Therefore, the coder should reselect and
code acute appendicitis as the ‘main condition’.

Example 3:

A patient with known COPD is admitted to hospital with acute respiratory failure which
after investigation is found to be caused by an acute exacerbation of COPD.

Main condition: Acute respiratory failure

Other condition: Acute exacerbation of COPD

The symptom “acute respiratory failure” was recorded as the main condition; however,
it was determined to be caused by exacerbation of COPD. Therefore, the coder should
reselect and code the COPD as the ‘main condition’

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Where a symptom or sign is recorded as the ‘main condition’ with documentation that it
may be due to either one condition or another, select the symptom as the ‘main
condition’.

Example 1:

Main condition: Headache due to tension or acute sinusitis

The symptom ‘headache’ is recorded as the main condition with possibly two causes;
therefore, the coder should code headache as the ‘main condition’.

Type 2 extension codes (a new section of codes in ICD–11) will provide distinct codes
that serve as concept modifying flags for marking how the diagnosis is to be used
and/or interpreted. Examples of these extension code modifiers include:

 Discharge diagnosis types (main condition; main resource condition; initial

reason for encounter or admission);
 Diagnosis certainty (Provisional diagnosis; Differential diagnosis)
 Diagnosis Timing (Present on admission; Developed after admission; Uncertain
timing of onset relative to admission)

For more detail about the use of all available extension codes, see Section [Link]
Extension codes.

Example 1:

A patient is admitted to hospital with chest pain and after investigation is diagnosed
with a myocardial infarction and then develops a stroke that leads to a one-month
hospitalisation. Myocardial infarction is coded as the main condition because it was the
reason for admission established at the end of the stay. The stroke is coded separately
and can be postcoordinated with a diagnosis-type extension code flag indicating that
the stroke diagnosis arose after admission.

Such a system with diagnosis flags meets the objectives of countries that want a
reason-for-admission coding rule, while also meeting the objectives of countries that
want to be able to make inferences regarding complications of care and resource
consumption (of relevance to casemix systems).

2.24.2 Coding using postcoordination/cluster coding

A significant new feature in ICD–11 is an embedded functionality for postcoordinating
diagnostic concepts to better capture the clinical narrative surrounding an episode of
care. This postcoordination of diagnostic concepts is now possible in ICD–11. For more
detail about coding of conditions using postcoordination, see Section 2.4.1 Combining
stem codes and extension codes, and how to order these in a complex code cluster,
and Section 2.14 Adding detail – postcoordination and cluster coding with multiple stem
codes and extension codes.

The postcoordinated coding of diagnostic concepts described by the health care

practitioner are shown in the following examples:

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Example 1

A patient is admitted to the hospital for laser treatment of their diabetic retinopathy due
to Type 2 diabetes mellitus. During the admission the patient’s medication for arterial
hypertension required adjustment on a number of occasions before discharge. Code as
main condition the diabetic retinopathy, unspecified postcoordinated with the stem
code type 2 diabetes mellitus 9B71.0Z/5A11. Code the other condition essential
hypertension BA00.Z

For morbidity coding, the order of the codes in the first cluster in Example 1 has the
diabetic retinopathy ordered first as it is the diabetic retinopathy that meets the
definition of main condition followed by the causing condition Type 2 diabetes. (Note:
The classification instructs to code also the type of diabetes.)

Where an established causal relationship is not documented or cannot be inferred, the

two stem codes cannot be part of the same cluster.

Example 2

Patient admitted for right cataract extraction. The patient also has Type 2 diabetes
mellitus and was reviewed by the endocrinologist and dietitian for their long-term diet
and insulin plan. Code the main condition as Cataract, unspecified, right 9B10&XK9K.
Code the other condition as Type 2 diabetes mellitus 5A11.

Example 2 demonstrates postcoordination/cluster coding where a causal relationship

between the cataract and the Type 2 diabetes has not been documented and cannot
be inferred; therefore, the two stem codes for each condition are reported separately.

[Link] Coding from health care practitioner documentation of ‘causal

relationships’
Sometimes conditions that have a causal relationship are clearly documented by the
health care practitioner using terms such as ‘due to’, ‘caused by’, or ‘arising from’.
These connecting terms indicate the health care practitioner has made a causal link
between, for example, condition A due to condition B. However, sometimes conditions
are documented with connecting terms that are ambiguous for the coder such as ‘with’,
‘after’, ‘in’, and ‘following’. When ambiguous terms are documented, and it is not clear
whether the health care practitioner means a causal inference or not, the clinical coder
should code each condition separately and not link the conditions in a cluster.

The clustering (postcoordination) is a particularly notable new feature in ICD-11 that

has permitted the introduction of powerful new clinical coding mechanisms for
capturing clinical information in dimensions such as:

 quality and safety coding for health care related injury and harms (see 3 part
model described in Section )
 injury and the external cause of injury
 the addition of clinical detail using extension codes
 the specification of diagnosis type and diagnosis timing using extension codes
 the comprehensive description of late effects (sequelae) arising from prior
conditions (See Section 2.22.6)

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 the description of inter related stem code diagnoses where there is a clear
causal relationship

For more information on causal inference in the context of quality and safety, refer to
Section [Link] Causation in the context of quality and safety.

[Link] Coding of suspected conditions or symptoms, abnormal

findings and non-illness situations
If the episode of health care was for an inpatient, the coder should be cautious about
classifying the main condition to Chapters 21 Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not
elsewhere classified and Chapter 24 Factors influencing health status or contact with
health services. If a more specific diagnosis has not been made by the end of the
inpatient stay, or if there was truly no codable current illness or injury, then codes from
the above chapters are permissible. The categories can be used in the normal way for
other episodes of contact with health services.

If, after an episode of health care, the main condition is recorded as ‘suspected’,
‘questionable’, etc., and there is no further information or clarification, the suspected
diagnosis must be coded as if established.

Example 1

Main condition: Suspected acute cholecystitis Code to acute cholecystitis, unspecified

DC12.0Z as ‘main condition’.

Example 2

Main condition: Severe epistaxis. Patient in hospital one day. No procedures or

investigations reported. Code to epistaxis MD20. Although epistaxis is a sign/symptom,
it is acceptable since the patient was obviously admitted to deal with the immediate
emergency only.

[Link] Coding of documented suspected conditions, ruled out

Many health care encounters are undertaken to evaluate patients for possible
conditions, to then determine after investigations that the patient does not have the
condition in question. In medical documentation, such scenarios often use the term
“rule out” or “ruled out”. It is essential for health information systems to have an ability
to report on such encounters.

ICD-11 includes a number of codes that can be used to describe encounters where a
suspected condition has been “ruled out”. These appear in Chapter 24 as children of
“QA02 Medical observation or evaluation for suspected diseases or conditions, ruled
out. “ Some of these specify the condition in question:

 Observation for suspected malignant neoplasm, ruled out

 Observation for suspected tuberculosis, ruled out
 Observation for suspected allergy or hypersensitivity, ruled out
In many other common scenarios, there is no specified condition, in which case, the
code QA02.Y should be used for another specified condition that has been ruled out. In

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such cases, post-coordination can be used to specify what the suspected condition
was.

Example 1

Admission for suspected deep vein thrombosis of leg, which after investigation is ruled
out. Code to QA02.Y/BD71.4 Explanation: The QA02.Y indicates that a medical
condition was ruled out and post-coordination allows specification of what the
suspected condition was (deep vein thrombosis leg).

Example 2

Some of the QA02 codes specify the condition that was ruled out. A child is found
playing with an empty acetaminophen bottle. The mother is uncertain if there were any
tablets in the bottle. The child is brought to the hospital and following investigation, it is
determined that the child did not ingest any pills. Unintentional ingestion of
acetaminophen – Ruled out. Code to QA02.5 Observation for suspected toxic effect
from ingested substance, ruled out Explanation: In this example, there is no need for
postcoordination because the code fully captures the concept.

[Link] Coding using combination categories

The ICD provides certain categories where two conditions or a condition and an
associated secondary process can be represented by a single code
(i.e. precoordinated concept). Such combination categories should be used where
appropriate information is recorded.

Example 1:

Main condition: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Stage 4 secondary to hypertensive

renal disease Other condition: Essential hypertension Code to Chronic Kidney disease,
stage 4 GB61.4 and add the Hypertensive renal disease BA02 in a cluster. Main
condition Cluster: GB61.4/BA02 Other condition: BA00 Essential hypertension

Example 2:

Main condition: Glaucoma secondary to eye inflammation Code to 9C61.24 Glaucoma

due to eye inflammation. This is a precoordinated code in ICD-11.

Example 3:

Main condition: Diabetic cataract. Type 1 diabetes mellitus Other conditions:

Hypertension Code Diabetic cataract 9B10.21 and ‘code also’ the type of diabetes
mellitus 5A10. Postcoordinate the stem code for diabetic cataract and stem code for
Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Main condition Cluster: 9B10.21/5A10. The hypertension is
not linked to the cataract or diabetes, so it is not part of the cluster.

Example 4:

Main condition: Rheumatoid arthritis Other conditions: Hypertension, Type 2 diabetes

mellitus, Cataract Code to Rheumatoid arthritis, serology unspecified FA20.Z as ‘main
condition’. Code the other conditions (hypertension BA00.Z, type 2 diabetes mellitus
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5A11, cataract 9B10.Z) separately. If any optional extension codes are added to any
one of the conditions, then a cluster(s) is created as applicable because extension
codes cannot be reported alone. Note that in this example, the linkage (through
clustering) of cataract with diabetes must not be made as the cataract has not been
documented as a diabetic cataract. In this case there is no combination indicating
clustering should be used.

Main condition: FA20.Z Other condition: BA00.Z Other condition: 5A11 Other condition:
9B10.Z

[Link] Coding using external causes of morbidity

For injuries and other conditions due to external causes, both the nature of the
condition and the circumstances of the external cause should be coded. The preferred
‘main condition’ code should be that describing the nature of the condition. This will
often, but not always, be classifiable to Chapter 22 Injury, poisoning or certain other
consequences of external causes. The code from Chapter 23 External causes of
morbidity or mortality indicating the external cause is assigned as an additional code
and postcoordinated with the nature of the condition as it may be regarded as a
modifier. See also Section .

Example 1:

Main condition: Fracture of neck of femur caused by fall due to tripping on sidewalk
Other conditions: Contusions to elbow and upper arm The health care practitioner has
identified the fracture as the main condition and since there is no other information to
make the coder question the main condition recorded, the coder should code fracture
of neck of femur NC72 as the ‘main condition’. The external cause code for
unintentional fall from unspecified height PA6Z is used as an additional code linked to
the fracture code through postcoordination. The contusion elbow NC30.1 and NC10.1
is coded as another condition cluster and the external cause code for unintentional fall
PA6Z is linked to the contusion code through postcoordination.

Main condition cluster: NC72/PA6Z Other condition cluster: NC30.1/NC10.1/PA6Z

Example 2:

Main condition: Hip fracture from fall Other condition: Severe hypothermia resulting
from being left in the cold weather Code to NC72.2Z Fracture of neck of femur,
unspecified as ‘main condition’ and postcoordinate the external cause code for
Unintentional fall from unspecified height PA6Z. Code as “other condition” hypothermia
NF02 and postcoordinate the external cause code Unintentional exposure to excessive
cold PB16. Main condition cluster: NC72.2Z /PA6Z Other condition cluster: NF02/PB16

Example 3:

Main condition: Diplopia due to reaction to antihistamine taken as prescribed Code to

diplopia 9D46 and postcoordinate the exteranl cause code for PL00 Drugs,
medicaments or biological substances associated with injury or harm in therapeutic use
and PL13.2 Drug-related injury or harm in the context of correct administration or
dosage, as mode of injury or harm. An optional extension code may be added to
identify the specific drug was an antihistamine XM5PK9.
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Main condition cluster: 9D46/PL00&XM5PK9/PL13.2

Example 4:

Main condition: Haemoglobinuria from exertion caused by training for marathon run
(training on outdoor track at stadium) Code to haemoglobinuria from exertion 3A21.Y
which is a precoordinated concept; therefore an external cause is not required.

[Link] Coding of acute and chronic conditions recorded as main

condition
Where the main condition is recorded as being both acute (or subacute) and chronic,
and the ICD provides separate categories or subcategories for each, but not for the
combination, the code for the acute condition should be reported as the main condition
(one condition determined to be the reason for admission established at the end of the
episode). When an appropriate combination code is provided for both the acute and
chronic condition, assign only the combination code as the main condition.

Example 1:

Main condition: Acute on chronic cholecystitis Code DC12.00 Acute on chronic

cholecystitis as the ‘main condition’. This is an example of combination code for both
the acute and chronic condition in ICD-11.

Example 2:

Main condition: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Code to

CA22.0 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation, unspecified as
the ‘main condition’ since the ICD provides an appropriate single precoordinated code
for the combination.

[Link] Coding of injuries or harm arising from surgical or medical care

Refer to Section .

[Link] Coding of adverse events and circumstances in health care

that do not cause actual injury or harm
Refer to Section .

[Link] Coding of chronic postprocedural conditions

Most body-system chapters also contain categories for permanent (chronic) conditions
that occur either as a consequence of specific procedures and techniques or as a
result of the removal of an organ, e.g. postmastectomy lymphoedema syndrome, post-
irradiation hypothyroidism. Immediate or acute conditions that occur as a consequence
of a procedure may require coding with the 3-part quality and safety model. See also
Section . The categories of postprocedural conditions do not have residual codes (i.e.,
other and unspecified). This is intentional as to prevent users inadvertently classifying
conditions to these categories that should, in fact, be classified elsewhere.

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[Link] Coding ‘History of’ and ‘Family history of’

Chapter 24 ‘Factors influencing health status or contact with health services’ of the
classification includes a number of codes that describe both a personal history of
various conditions, and a family history of various conditions. The classification of this
documented concept may be coded in one of two ways.

Option 1: Assign the applicable stem code from Chapter 24 ‘history of’ (or ‘family
history of’) by itself.

Option 2: Assign the applicable stem code from Chapter 24 clustered with a code from
another chapter to add specificity as to what was the previous ‘disease’. The order of
stem codes in the cluster is always the ‘history of’ stem code first, followed by any other
codes that may be added for detail.

Example 1:

A patient has history of sigmoid colon cancer that was curatively resected. Code:
QC40.0 Personal history of malignant neoplasm of digestive organs/ 2B90.3 Malignant
neoplasm of sigmoid colon

In example 1, the code simply captures the notion that the patient has a personal
history of cancer of the digestive organs. The documented clinical concept is fully
described through use of the clustering mechanism and linking of stem codes.

Example 2:

A patient has a family history of macular degeneration. Code: QC66 Family history of
eye or ear disorders/9B78.3Z Degeneration of macula or posterior pole, unspecified

[Link] Coding a “ruled out” condition

Many health care encounters are undertaken to evaluate patients for suspected
conditions, to then determine after investigations that the patient does not have the
condition in question. In medical documentation, such scenarios often use the term
“ruled out”. It is essential for health information systems to have an ability to report on
such encounters.

ICD-11 includes a number of codes that can be used to describe encounters where a
suspected condition has been “ruled out”. These appear in Chapter 24 as children of
QA02 Medical observation or evaluation for suspected diseases or conditions, ruled
out. Some of these codes specify the suspected condition in question:

 Observation for suspected malignant neoplasm, ruled out

 Observation for suspected tuberculosis, ruled out
 Observation for suspected allergy or hypersensitivity, ruled out

In many other common scenarios, there is no code for a specified suspected condition,
in which case, QA02.Y Medical observation or evaluation for other suspected diseases
or conditions, ruled out, ruled out is used. In such cases, post-coordination can be used
to specify the suspected condition that was ruled out. The classification of the
documented concept “ruled out” may be coded in one of two ways. Option 1: Assign

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the applicable code from QA02 Medical observation or evaluation for suspected
diseases or conditions, ruled out, ruled out, by itself. Option 2: Assign the applicable
code from QA02 Medical observation or evaluation for suspected diseases or
conditions, ruled out, ruled out clustered with a code from another chapter to add
specificity as to what was the suspected disease that was ruled out. The order of stem
codes in the cluster is always the QA02 stem code first.

Example 1

Admitted for suspected deep vein thrombosis of leg, which after investigation is ruled
out and no follow-up necessary. Main Condition: Ruled out deep vein thrombosis. Code
main condition cluster: QA02.Y/BD71.4

Explanation: QA02.Y indicates that an other specified condition was ruled out and post-
coordination allows specification of what the suspected condition was (deep vein
thrombosis leg).

Example 2

A child is found playing with an empty acetaminophen bottle. The mother is uncertain if
there were any tablets in the bottle. The child is brought to the hospital and following
investigation, it is determined that the child did not ingest any pills. Main condition:
Ruled out unintentional ingestion of acetaminophen. Code: QA02.5 Observation for
suspected toxic effect from ingested substance, ruled out

Explanation: In this example, QA02.5 specifies the condition that was ruled out.

[Link] Coding of conditions documented as sequela (late effect)

‘Sequelae’ include residual effects of diseases or disorders, injuries or poisonings
specified as such, or as late effect of, arrested, cured, healed, inactive, old or quiescent
condition unless there is evidence of active disease. Conditions documented as a
sequelae (late effect) will typically be classified using postcoordination depending on
the case.

The cluster should contain:

 first, a stem code identifying the specific manifestation (i.e. nature of the effect),
and
 second, a stem code designating ‘late effect of’ (either a code from the body
system chapters or a code from Chapter 24 Factors influencing health status or
contact with health services)
 third, if required, a stem code representing the prior condition causing the
sequelae

Example 1:

Joint contracture present as a late effect of a prior burn. Code cluster: FA34.3
Contracture of joint QC50 Late effect of prior health problem, not elsewhere classified
NE11 Burn of unspecified body region

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Example 2:

Hemiplegia present as a late effect of old cerebral ischemic stroke. Code cluster:
MB53.Z Hemiplegia, unspecified 8B25.0 Late effects of cerebral ischemic stroke (Note:
In Example 2, the concept of late effect and underlying cause is already precoordinated
in the stem code 8B25.0.)

2.24.3 Chapter-specific notes

Coder guidance is given below for specific chapters where problems may be
encountered in selecting preferred ‘main condition’ codes. The preceding general
guidelines and rules apply to all chapters unless a specific chapter note states
otherwise.

2.24.4 Chapter 1: Infectious and parasitic diseases

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease

A patient with a compromised immune system due to HIV disease may sometimes
require treatment during the same episode of care for more than one disease, for
example mycobacterial and cytomegalovirus infections. Only subcategories for HIV
disease associated with, tuberculosis, and malaria are pre-coordinated in this block for
HIV disease. When another specified HIV-caused disease is documented by the health
care practitioner, post-coordinate the HIV-caused disease with the appropriate
subcategory for HIV disease as recorded by the health-care practitioner.

Example 1:

The patient has HIV disease and is admitted for treatment of Kaposi’s sarcoma of the
soft palate.
Main condition: Kaposi sarcoma due to HIV disease Kaposi sarcoma is documented as
an HIV-caused disease. Therefore, the stem code for Kaposi sarcoma is
postcoordinated with the applicable stem code for HIV.

Main condition: 2B57.Y Kaposi sarcoma of other specified primary site&XA8HL5 Soft
palate/1C62.3 HIV disease clinical stage 4 without mention of tuberculosis or malaria.

Example 2:

The patient has HIV disease and is admitted for treatment of toxoplasmosis. Main
condition: Toxoplasmosis due to HIV Main condition: 1F57.Z Toxoplasmosis,
unspecified/1C62.3 HIV disease clinical stage 4 without mention of tuberculosis or
malaria

Sepsis with or without septic shock

The concept of sepsis has undergone major changes during the last decades and the
current description established and widely accepted internationally in 2016 is that
sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response
to infection.

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Sepsis is not considered to be a disease in itself, but a reaction to an infectious disease

which may be of bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoal aetiology. Septic shock is defined
as a subset of sepsis in which circulatory, cellular and metabolic abnormalities are
profound enough to substantially increase mortality.

A cluster involving a case of documented sepsis should include:

 First, a stem code representing the causing infection (specified or unspecified)

and as applicable, an optional extension code for the infectious agent if it is
known.
 Second, a stem code for sepsis with or without septic shock depending on the
documentation

Note: If the causing infection is documented as generalised or a specific infection is not

documented, assign a stem code for greatest level of specificity documented in
relationship to the infection.

Example 1:

Patient admitted for treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia causing sepsis

Main condition: Pneumococcal pneumonia causing sepsis

Code first the causing infection, CA40.07 Pneumonia due to Streptococcus

pneumoniae and postcoordinate with the stem code for 1G40 Sepsis without septic
shock

Main condition cluster: CA40.07/1G40

Example 2:

Patient admitted for treatment of severe influenza A H1N1 causing sepsis. Code first
the causing infection, Influenza 1E30 Influenza due to identified seasonal influenza
virus with optional extension code for A H1N1 XN297 and postcoordinate with the stem
code for sepsis without septic shock 1G40 Main condition cluster: 1E30 &XN297/1G40

Example 3:

Patient admitted for treatment of sepsis due to [Link]. Main condition: Sepsis due to E
Coli. Code first the causing infection. In this example, a specific infection is not
documented; therefore a code for bacterial infection of unspecified site 1C41, is coded
with optional extension code for Escherichia coli XN6P4 and postcoordinate with the
stem code for sepsis without septic shock 1G40. Main condition cluster
1C41&XN6P4/1G40

Example 4:

Patient presented with septic shock and died shortly after admission. Main condition:
Septic shock, unknown infection Code first the causing infection. In this example, a
specific infection is unknown; therefore, a code for infection, unspecified 1G7Z and
then sepsis with septic shock 1G41

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Main condition cluster: 1G7Z /1G41

2.24.5 Chapter 2: Neoplasms

When coding neoplasms, refer to the instructions at the level of the individual
categories regarding code assignment, and the use of additional morphological or site
descriptions from the extension codes. A neoplasm, whether primary or metastatic, that
is the focus of care during a relevant episode of health care, should be recorded.

When the ‘main condition’ recorded by the health-care practitioner is a primary

neoplasm and the ‘other condition’ is a secondary neoplasm (metastasis), code each
neoplasm separately. Do not post-coordinate the stem code for primary neoplasm with
the stem code for secondary neoplasm.

When the main condition recorded by the health care practitioner is a secondary
neoplasm (metastasis) and the primary neoplasm is no longer present (having been
removed during a previous episode of care/personal history of), code the secondary
neoplasm (metastasis) as the main condition and separately code as an other condition
the stem code for ‘personal history of’. Do not postcoordinate the stem code for
secondary neoplasm with the stem code for ‘personal history of’. (See example below).
Also, refer to Section [Link] Coding ‘History of’ and ‘Family history of’ for further
coding direction.

When the main condition recorded by the health care practitioner is ‘Follow-up
examination’ (a circumstance codable to Chapter 24 Factors influencing health status
or contact with health services) and the ‘other condition’ recorded is a ‘personal history
of’, code the applicable ‘follow-up examination’ code as the main condition and
separately code the stem code for ‘personal history of’ as the other condition. Do not
postcoordinate the ‘follow-up examination’ stem code with the stem code for ‘personal
history of’. Refer to Section [Link] Coding ‘History of’ and ‘Family history of’ for
coding direction.

Example 1:

A patient is admitted for investigation of a lump in the breast. Investigation concludes a

malignancy in the left breast. Mastectomy is performed and histopathology shows a
spread to regional lymph nodes (left axilla). Chemotherapy is planned. Main condition:
Carcinoma of breast Other condition: Metastases to regional lymph nodes Procedure:
Mastectomy Code the main condition as malignant neoplasm in breast with optional
extension code ‘left’ 2C6Z&XK8G. Cluster code secondary malignancy in lymph nodes
2D60&XK8G with optional extension code ‘left’ as other condition. Main condition
cluster: 2C6Z&XK8G

Example 2:

Patient who has a history of carcinoma of breast resected two years ago is admitted for
a bronchoscopy with biopsy. Investigation revealed secondary carcinoma in lung. Main
condition: Secondary carcinoma in lung Other conditions: Carcinoma of breast
resected two years ago Procedure: Bronchoscopy with biopsy Code the main condition
as ‘Malignant neoplasm metastasis in lung’ 2D70. Code ‘Personal history of malignant
neoplasm of breast’ QC40.3 as another condition and it is acceptable to post-
coordinate the stem code Malignant neoplasm of breast, unspecified 2C6Z to specify
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the personal history is related to malignant primary breast cancer. Refer to

Section [Link] Coding ‘History of’ and ‘Family history of’’. Main condition: 2D70
Other condition: Option 1: QC40.3; Option 2: QC40.3/2C6Z

Example 3:

Patient is admitted for bladder cancer recheck by cystoscopy. The patient has a history
of previously excised bladder cancer. No evidence of recurrence seen. Main condition:
Follow-up examination by cystoscopy Other conditions: History of bladder cancer
Procedure: Cystoscopy Code the main condition as ‘Follow-up examination after
treatment for malignant neoplasm’ QA06. Option 1: Code ‘Personal history of malignant
neoplasm of urinary tract’ QC40.5. Option 2: Code ‘Personal history of malignant
neoplasm of urinary tract’ QC40.5 as an other condition and post-coordinate the stem
code ‘Malignant neoplasm of bladder, unspecified’ 2C94.Z to specify the personal
history is related to bladder cancer. Refer to Section [Link] Coding ‘History of’ and
‘Family history of’. Main condition: QA06 Other condition cluster: Option 1: QC40.5;
Option 2: QC40.5/2C94.Z

Malignant neoplasms of independent, primary multiple sites

The stem code for Malignant neoplasms of independent (primary) multiple sites should
be coded as the main condition when the health care practitioner records as the main
condition two or more independent primary malignant neoplasms, none of which
predominates. Then, optionally, additional codes to identify the individual neoplasms
may be coded as other conditions to identify the individual primary malignant
neoplasms recorded by the health care practitioner. Extension codes may be added to
each primary malignant neoplasm stem code to identify additional detail of the
histopathology and the site.

Example 1:

The documentation states that the patient has carcinomatosis of the peritoneum from
an unknown primary neoplasm. Main condition: Carcinomatosis of peritoneum Code
the main condition as 2D91 Malignant neoplasm metastasis in peritoneum. Code as
another condition Unspecified malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified sites
2D4Z. Main condition: 2D91 Other condition: 2D4Z

Example 2:

Main condition: Multiple myeloma Other conditions: Primary adenocarcinoma of

prostate Code the main condition as ‘Plasma cell myeloma’ 2A83.1. Code as an other
condition ‘Adenocarcinoma of prostate’ 2C82.0. Main condition: 2A83.1 Other
condition: 2C82.0

Unspecified malignant neoplasms of ill-defined or unspecified sites

This code should be used only when the health care practitioner has clearly recorded
the neoplasm as an unknown primary site or as an unspecified malignancy, assumed
primary.

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Malignant neoplasm metastases, unspecified

This code should be used as the main condition only when the malignancy is described
as ‘disseminated metastases’ or ‘metastatic carcinoma’ (or other similar terms as
described in the inclusion list of the code) and the specific sites are not documented.

2.24.6 Chapter 3: Diseases of the blood or blood-forming

organs
Certain conditions classifiable to this chapter may result from drugs or other external
causes. Codes from Chapter 23 ‘External causes of morbidity and mortality’ may be
used as optional additional codes.

Example 1:

Patient who is on long-term treatment with the drug trimethoprim is admitted and
treated for trimethoprim-induced folate deficiency anaemia. Main condition:
Trimethoprim-induced folate deficiency anaemia Code the main condition as ‘Drug-
induced folate deficiency anaemia’ 3A02.4 and postcoordinate with the external cause
code ‘Drugs medicaments and biological substances associated with injury or harm in
therapeutic use’ PL00 and the external cause code ‘Drug-related injury or harm in
context of correct administration or dosage, as mode of injury or harm’ PL13.2. The
extension code XM7NY9 Trimethoprim, may be added optionally to identify the drug.
Main condition cluster: 3A02.4 /PL00 &XM7NY9 /PL13.2

2.24.7 Chapter 5: Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic

diseases
Certain conditions classifiable to this chapter may result from drugs or other external
causes. Codes from Chapter 23 ‘External causes of morbidity and mortality’ may be
used as optional additional codes.

Diabetes mellitus

When the health care practitioner has documented a condition due to diabetes mellitus,
postcoordinate the condition and the diabetes mellitus stem codes. If more than one
condition is documented as being due to diabetes mellitus, each distinct clinical
concept (each diabetes caused condition) is coded on its own and postcoordinated with
the diabetes mellitus stem code even though it means repeating the diabetes code in
each cluster. (Refer to Example 2 below).

Example 1:

Main condition: Kidney failure due to Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Kidney failure is
documented as due to diabetes mellitus; therefore, code to ‘Kidney failure, unspecified’
GB6Z and postcoordinate with the stem code 5A11 Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Main
condition cluster: GB6Z/5A11

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Example 2:

Main condition: Type 1 diabetes with diabetic nephropathy Other condition: Diabetic
cataract Code the main condition as ‘Type 1 diabetes mellitus’ 5A10 postcoordinated
with the stem code ‘Chronic kidney disease, stage unspecified’ GB61.Z. Code as an
other condition ‘Diabetic cataract’ 9B10.21 postcoordinated with the stem code Type 1
diabetes mellitus 5A10.
Main condition cluster: 5A10/GB61.Z Other condition cluster: 9B10.21/5A10

Carcinoid syndrome

This code is not to be used as the preferred code for main condition if a carcinoid
neoplasm is recorded, unless the episode of care was directed predominantly at the
endocrine syndrome itself and the tumour is not reported.

2.24.8 Chapter 6: Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental

disorders
Dementia

Always code the underlying aetiology, if documented.

2.24.9 Chapter 8: Diseases of the nervous system

Certain conditions classifiable to this chapter may result from the effects of drugs or
other external causes. Codes from Chapter 23 ‘External causes of morbidity and
mortality’ may be used as optional additional codes.

Late effect of cerebrovascular disease

These codes are not to be used as the preferred code for the ‘main condition’ if the
nature of the residual condition is recorded. Refer to Section [Link] Coding of
conditions documented as sequela (late effect).

Paralytic symptoms

These codes are not to be used as the preferred code for the main condition if a
current cause is recorded, unless the episode of care was mainly for the paralysis itself
and the cause is not recorded.

Example 1:

Patient is admitted with left side hemiplegia and following investigation determined to
be due to acute ischaemic stroke. Main condition: Acute ischaemic stroke with
hemiplegia. Code the main condition as 8B11.5 Cerebral ischaemic stroke of unknown
cause and postcoordinate the stem code Hemiplegia, unspecified MB53.Z. An optional
extension code to specify XK8G Left may be added. Main condition cluster:
8B11.5/MB53.Z&XK8G

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Example 2:

Patient is admitted for rehabilitation training for paralysis of left leg resulting from
cerebral infarction three years ago. Main condition: Paralysis of left leg Code the main
condition as MB55.Z Monoplegia of lower extremity, unspecified and an optional
extension code to specify XK8G Left may be added. Post-coordinate the stem code
8B25.0 Late effects of cerebral ischemic stroke Main condition cluster:
MB55.Z&XK8G/8B25.0

2.24.10 Chapter 9: Diseases of the visual system

Vision impairment including blindness

These codes are not to be used as the preferred code for the main condition if the
cause is recorded, unless the episode of care was mainly for the blindness itself and
the cause of blindness is not recorded.

2.24.11 Chapter 10: Diseases of the ear or mastoid process

Acquired hearing impairment

These codes are not to be used alone if the cause is recorded, unless the episode of
care was mainly for the hearing loss itself and the cause was not recorded.

2.24.12 Chapter 11: Diseases of the circulatory system

Secondary hypertension

This code is not to be used as the preferred code for the main condition if the cause is
recorded. When coding to the cause, secondary hypertension is used as an additional
code (in a cluster) to indicate that this manifestation has been relevant in the context of
a treatment.

2.24.13 Chapter 15: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

or connective tissue
Many musculoskeletal conditions are treated without knowing the underlying disease.
In such cases only the musculoskeletal condition is coded.

2.24.14 Chapter 18: Pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium

JA05 Complications following abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy

These codes are not to be used as the preferred code for the main condition, except
where a new episode of care is solely for treatment of a complication, e.g. a current
complication of a previous abortion. These codes may be used as an optional
additional code with ‘Abortive outcome of pregnancy’ codes to identify associated
complications and to give fuller details of the complication.

Example 1:

Main condition: Ruptured tubal pregnancy causing shock Other conditions: - Specialty:
Gynaecology Code the main condition as ‘Tubal pregnancy’ JA01.1 and since the

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shock is documented as a complication of the tubal pregnancy, post-coordinate ‘Shock

following abortion and ectopic and molar pregnancy’ JA05.3. Main condition cluster:
JA01.1/JA05.3

Example 2:

Patient is diagnosed with endometritis following a spontaneous abortion that was

diagnosed and treated at a previous episode of care. Main condition: Endometritis
following spontaneous abortion Specialty: Gynaecology This example represents a
new episode of care solely for treatment of a current complication of a previous
spontaneous abortion; therefore, code the main condition as ‘Genital tract or pelvic
infection following abortion, ectopic or molar pregnancy’ JA05.0. No other code is
required since the abortion was performed during a previous episode of care. Main
condition: JA05.0

Delivery

Use of these codes to describe the ‘main condition’ should be limited to cases where
the only information recorded is a statement of delivery or the method of delivery.
These codes may be used as additional codes to indicate a method or type of delivery
where no separate data item or procedural classification is being used for this purpose.

Example 3:

Patient is admitted in labour and delivers a healthy newborn without complication. Main
condition: Pregnancy Other conditions: - Procedure: Spontaneous vaginal delivery
Code ‘Single spontaneous delivery, unspecified’ JB20.Z as ‘main condition’. Main
condition: JB20.Z

Example 4:

Patient who has a history of previous caesarean section is admitted for in labour. A trial
of labour is unsuccessful for vaginal delivery due to arrested active phase and mom is
delivered by unplanned repeat Caesarean section. Main condition: Pregnancy
delivered Other conditions: Failed trial of labour due to arrested active phase
Procedure: Caesarean section Code ‘Failed trial of labour, unspecified’ JB0D.8 as the
‘main condition’ and post-coordinate ‘Secondary uterine inertia’ JB02.1 because the
health care practitioner has documented the cause of the failed trial of labour. Code
‘Single delivery by Caesarean section, unspecified’ JB22.Z as an other condition to
indicate the method of delivery. Main condition cluster: JB0D.8/JB02.1 Other condition:
JB22.Z

Example 5:

Patient who is known to have a twin pregnancy is admitted in labour and delivers two
healthy newborns. Main condition: Twin pregnancy delivered Other conditions: -
Procedure: Spontaneous delivery Code ‘Twin pregnancy’ JA80.0 as the ‘main
condition’. Code ’Multiple delivery, all spontaneous’JB24.0 as an other condition to
indicate the method of delivery. Main condition: JA80.0 Other condition: JB24.0

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Example 6:

Patient is admitted in labour at 38 weeks gestation. On examination, no foetal heart

rate could be detected. Main condition: Term pregnancy delivered dead foetus Other
conditions: - Procedure: Spontaneous delivery Code to ‘Maternal care for intrauterine
death’ JA86.3. Code as an other condition Single spontaneous delivery, unspecified
JB20.Z to indicate the method of delivery. Main condition: JA86.3 Other condition:
JB20.Z

Certain maternal diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth

or the puerperium

The subcategories provided should be used as ‘main condition’ codes in preference to

categories outside Chapter 18 ‘Pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium’ when the
conditions being classified have been indicated by the health-care practitioner to have
complicated the pregnant state, to have been aggravated by the pregnancy, or to have
been the reason for obstetric care. The pertinent codes from other chapters may be
used as optional additional codes to allow specification of the condition. Post-
coordination applies when the additional code to specify the condition is coded.

Example 7:

Patient is admitted at 28 weeks gestation with toxoplasmosis. Main condition:

Toxoplasmosis Other conditions: Pregnancy undelivered Code ‘Protozoal diseases
complicating pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium, unspecified’ JB63.6Z as the main
condition and optionally, code ‘Toxoplasmosis, unspecified’ 1F57.Z to identify the
specific protozoal disease that is complicating the pregnancy. When the additional
code to identify the specific complication is coded, then postcoordination applies
because 1F57.Z is adding additional detail/specificity to the stem code JB63.6Z. Main
condition cluster: JB63.6Z/1F57.Z

2.24.15 Chapter 21: Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not

elsewhere classified
Categories from this chapter should not be used as ‘main condition’ codes unless the
symptom, sign or clinical finding was clearly the main condition treated or investigated
during an episode of care.

2.24.16 Chapter 22: Injury, poisoning or certain other

consequences of external causes
Where multiple injuries are recorded and no one of these has been selected as the
‘main condition’, code to one of the categories provided for statements of multiple
injuries of:

 same type to the same body region;

 different types to the same body region; and
 same type to different body regions
and postcoordinate the stem codes that describe each individual injury.

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Note the following exceptions:

 for internal injuries recorded with superficial injuries and/or open wounds only,
code to internal injuries as the ‘main condition’;
 for fractures of skull and facial bones with associated intracranial injury, code to
the intracranial injury as the ‘main condition’;
 for intracranial haemorrhage recorded with other injuries to the head only, code
to intracranial haemorrhage as the ‘main condition’;
 for fractures recorded with open wounds of the same location only, code to
fracture as the ‘main condition’.

When the multiple injury categories are used, codes for any individual injuries listed are
used as additional codes in the same cluster.

Example 1:

Patient suffered injuries to the bladder and urethra following an assault. Main condition:
Injury to bladder and urethra Other conditions: - Code as main condition NB92.8 Injury
of multiple pelvic organs and postcoordinate the stem codes for NB92.2Z Injury of
bladder, unspecified and NB92.3Z Injury of urethra, unspecified as these codes are
adding additional detail/specificity to NB92.8. Main condition cluster:
NB92.8/NB92.2Z/NB92.2Z

Example 2:

Patient, who was the driver of a motorcycle, lost control on the highway and crashed.
Investigations revealed open intracranial wound with cerebellar haemorrhage. Main
condition: Open intracranial wound with cerebellar haemorrhage Other conditions: -
Code the main condition [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS NA0A.3Y Other
specified multiple injuries of head] and postcoordinate the stem codes for NA07.1
Traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage and NA07.Y Other specified intracranial injury.
Main condition cluster: [!Error the uri does not exist in ICD-11 MMS
NA0A.3Y]/NA07.1/NA07.Y Other specified intracranial injury

2.24.17 Chapter 23: External causes of morbidity or mortality

These codes are not to be used as ‘main condition’ codes. They are intended for use
as optional additional codes to identify the external cause of conditions classified in
Chapter 22 and may also be used as optional additional codes with conditions
classified in any other chapter but having an external cause.

2.24.18 Chapter 24: Factors influencing health status or

contact with health services
There are some health care episodes that are not related to the treatment of or
investigation of current illness or injury (e.g., monitoring of previously-treated
conditions, immunization visits, seeking of health-related advice). In such
circumstances, a code for the main condition can potentially be found in Chapter 24
‘Factors influencing health status and contact with health services’.

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2.25 Special cases: Morbidity

The morbidity special tabulation list is intended as a basis for national lists and for inter-
country comparison. National lists can be constructed by either condensing or
expanding the core classification as appropriate. The list is suitable for data on
inpatient care and, with suitable adaptation – notable aggregation of some items and
expansion of items relating to Chapter 21 ‘Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not
elsewhere classified’ and Chapter 24 ‘Factors influencing health status and contact
with health services’ – for information from other sources, such as ambulatory care and
surveys.

When a local list is constructed, the key to the condensed categories should contain
the four (or five) character codes of the core classification. The list has been designed
for international comparisons of hospital morbidity statistics. This concise list allows for
comparison of hospital activity, independent of health systems, and based on the
version of the ICD in use. The conditions have been selected in a way that they can
always be treated in an admission of at least 24 hours. If, after examination of the
frequencies of the ICD four-character rubrics, it is necessary to expand the list, some of
the items within ICD categories can be subdivided according to the core classification
or even to the five-character level. If the recommended list is too detailed or if a shorter
list is required, selection can be made based on national or local health concerns.
Depending on a country’s ‘epidemiological profile’, categories may be combined to
shorten the list.

2.25.1 Morbidity classification in clinical care

Clinical care comprises different levels of treatment, all of which mean a level of
diagnostic capacity that is higher than in primary care. The ICD addresses this level of
detail primarily through multidimensional coding. Secondary care refers to the health
care services provided by medical specialists and other health professionals who
generally do not have first contact with patients, for example, cardiologists, urologists,
or dermatologists. It includes acute care, necessary treatment for a short period of time
for a brief but serious illness, injury or other health condition, such as in a hospital
emergency department. It also includes skilled attendants during childbirth, intensive
care, and medical imaging services. ‘Secondary care’ is sometimes used
synonymously with ‘hospital care’. However, many secondary care providers do not
necessarily work in hospitals, such as psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or
physiotherapists, and some primary care services are delivered within hospitals.
Depending on the organisation and policies of the national health system, patients may
be required to see a primary care provider for a referral before they can access
secondary care. Tertiary care refers to specialised consultative health care, usually for
inpatients and following a referral from a primary or secondary health professional, in a
facility that has personnel and facilities for advanced medical investigation and
treatment, such as a tertiary referral hospital.

2.25.2 Morbidity for epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states
or events (including disease) and the application of this study to the control of diseases
and other health problems. Various methods can be used to carry out epidemiological
investigations- surveillance and descriptive studies are used to study distribution and

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analytical studies are used to study determinants. ICD coded data, either from
morbidity or mortality sources, contribute to the understanding of the health of a
population.

2.25.3 Morbidity for quality and patient safety

Coded health information is used to measure and report on various aspects of quality
of care and patient safety (e.g. reporting on in-hospital mortality or adverse event rates
for various conditions or reporting on patient safety indicators). Users of this kind of
health information are health system payers (e.g. ministries of health, or in privately-
funded health care systems, health insurance companies) and other stakeholders,
such as health quality councils, hospital administrators, clinical leaders/groups, or
public advocacy organisations.

[Link] The quality and safety use case for ICD–11

The quality and safety use case of the ICD is based on the availability of large numbers
of methodological tools that are originally based on ICD–10. Specific examples include
the Charlson and Elixhauser co-morbidity indices, AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality) Patient Safety Indicators, the Hospital Standardised Mortality
Ratio, and various other administrative data quality indicators. WHO recommendations
on coding rules for hospital separation episodes improve comparability of records
across hospitals and jurisdictions. Specific examples of coding rules include: a) rules
for specifying the main condition, b) numbers of codes per record, c) code clustering
mechanisms, and d) use of a status display system that distinguishes diagnoses
arising during a hospital stay from those present at admission. Quality and patient
safety reporting is often focused not only on diagnostic information available in the
International Classification of Diseases, but also on procedure information, that is
currently coded in various country-specific procedure coding systems. The
harmonisation of ontological concepts in international procedure coding systems will be
important going forward. The available medical and surgical complication codes of
ICD–11 are in line with current knowledge in the domain of safety and adverse events.

[Link] Reporting on indicators of quality of care and patient safety

This use case relates to the use of coded health information to measure and report on
various aspects of quality of care and patient safety (e.g., reporting on in-hospital
mortality or adverse event rates for various conditions, or reporting on patient safety
indicators). The initiating actor may be a health quality council, hospital administrators,
clinical leaders/groups, a health system payer (e.g., ministries of health, or in privately-
funded health care systems, health insurance companies) or a public advocacy ‘watch-
dog’ organisations. The participating actors are hospital administrators, clinicians,
health system decision makers, public representatives, patients and their families, and
sometimes even the media. Preconditions are:

 Availability of person-level data on episodes of health care delivery (e.g.,

hospitalisations, physician visits)
 Identifiers that permit attribution of the health care delivery episode to a provider,
provider group, or a given health facility/hospital.
 Clinical information on diagnoses present and procedures performed during a
health care delivery episode.
 Clinical information on relevant outcomes such as mortality, length of stay, and
specific adverse events.

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 Analytical expertise among initiating actors so that attention is paid to data

validity considerations, knowledge of ‘best’ indicators (e.g., the most valid
patient safety indicators), risk adjustment methodology, etc.

The outputs are reports containing information on dimensions of system quality. These
can either provide global information on system performance, or comparative
information stratified by provider unit (e.g. physician-level, hospital-level, or regional
reporting).

[Link] Functionality:
An ideal course of events for such use would include:

 The initiating actor communicates desire to conduct quality/safety measurement

and reporting to relevant stakeholders.
 Appropriate applications are made to secure access to the data needed to
conduct the planned reporting.
 Appropriate methodological and clinical expertise is enlisted to ensure that best
methodological practices are incorporated into the planned reporting, and that
clinical face validity and acceptability are considered.
 Data analysis and reporting are undertaken.
 Broad dissemination and knowledge translation to stakeholders is undertaken. A
continuous quality improvement process is undertaken in response to reports
(with consideration given to quality improvement interventions, and repeat
measurement after intervention).
o Exceptions: Quality/safety reporting that does not follow the sequence of
steps described above can be compromised. Indeed, there are many
historical instances of failed or suboptimal quality/safety reporting from
administrative data because of skipped steps. (e.g., 1. quality reporting
without valid indicators, or appropriate methodologies for risk adjustment,
2. quality reporting without good clinical face validity, 3. quality reporting
without a Continuous Quality Improvement(CQI) mind set, etc.).
 Examples of sub-use cases (addressing the quality dimensions of effectiveness,
efficiency, safety, access)
o reporting on global mortality by facility (e.g., the hospital standardised
mortality ratio - HSMR)
o reporting on condition-specific mortality
o reporting on patient safety indicators
o reporting on global or condition-specific length of stay
o reporting on readmission rates after hospitalisation
o reporting on global or condition-specific costs of care (e.g., cost per
hospitalisation)
o reporting on waiting times
o reporting on small area variability in utilization

[Link] Additional information:

Requirements:

See ‘Preconditions’ section above. There needs to be ongoing development and

refinement of quality reporting methodologies (in essence, ongoing research around
the development of new administrative data quality indicators and new methodologies
for risk adjustment in outcome/quality reporting).
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Assumptions:

An underlying assumption in quality or patient safety reporting from administrative data

is uniformity of data format and data validity across comparator units (i.e., across
provides, hospitals, or jurisdictions). Uniformity in data format and validity is not always
present and has been a common reason for criticism of quality or patient safety reports
derived from administrative data. In this regard, all ongoing WHO efforts towards
achieving directive coding rules help to facilitate comparative reporting by reducing
data variability across comparator units (e.g., rules on factors such as the definition of
the ‘main condition’, numbers of possible codes per record, and the implementation of
diagnosis-timing codes). See also the separate use case description for international
comparative reporting.

2.25.4 Conceptual model for quality and patient safety

Exposure to health care events sometimes has unintended and undesired
consequences. Health care, the people to whom it is provided, and the complications
that can arise in the course of care are highly diverse and complex. Representing them
comprehensively in an information system is challenging and is presently beyond the
bounds of practicality for routine administrative information systems of the types that
are intended to make use of the ICD. The conceptual model has three components:

1. Harm to the patient: What was the main consequence for the patient’s health?
2. Cause or source of harm: What caused the harm?
3. Mode or mechanism: In what way? How did the source of harm actually produce
harm?

2.25.5 Overview of code-set in ICD–11 for quality and patient

safety
A key feature of the quality and patient safety code-set in ICD–11 is that a cluster of
codes is required to represent a case. Use of the term ‘cluster’ is novel in ICD–11 and
so is the extent and formalisation of the requirement for postcoordination. The quality
and safety use case of the ICD is based on the availability of large numbers of
methodological tools that are originally based on ICD–10. Specific examples include
the Charlson and Elixhauser co-morbidity indices, AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality) Patient Safety Indicators, the Hospital Standardised Mortality
Ratio, and various other administrative data quality indicators. WHO recommendations
on coding rules for hospital separation episodes improve comparability of records
across hospitals and jurisdictions. Specific examples of coding rules include: a) rules
for specifying the main condition, b) numbers of codes per record, c) code clustering
mechanisms, and d) use of a status display system that distinguishes diagnoses
arising during a hospital stay from those present at admission. Quality and patient
safety reporting is often focused not only on diagnostic information available in the
International Classification of Diseases, but also on procedure information, that is
currently coded in various country-specific procedure coding systems. The
harmonisation of ontological concepts in international procedure coding systems will be
important going forward. The available medical and surgical complication codes of
ICD–11 are in line with current knowledge in the domain of safety and adverse events.

The first component, quality and patient safety Harm, is usually represented by a
standard ICD–11 diagnosis code, from (almost) any chapter of the classification. Some
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forms of harm that can result from quality and safety events are not adequately
represented by a standard ICD–11 diagnosis code. A special set of categories to
represent these forms of harm are provided in the injury chapter of ICD–11 (Chapter 22
‘Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external causes’), under the
category titled ‘Injury or harm arising from surgical or medical care, not elsewhere
classified’. Quality and patient safety causes (sources of harm) fall into four types of
causes at the top level that capture events caused by:

1. substances (drugs and medicaments, etc.),

2. procedures,
3. devices, and
4. a mix of other types of causes (e.g. problems associated with transfusions, or
problems associated with diagnosis, including missed diagnosis, incorrect
diagnosis, etc.).

The full quality and safety external cause codes are found in Chapter 23 ‘External
causes of morbidity or mortality’ within category titled ‘Causes of health care related
harm or injury’.

Quality and safety Mode or Mechanism (‘Mode’ is the term used in ICD-11 external
cause codes) refers to the main way in which the Quality and safety Cause leads to
the Harm represented in the third concept, Quality and safety Harm. Quality and
safety Modes are specific to the types of Quality and safety Cause. Examples are:

Table 1: Examples of corresponding quality and safety mode or mechanism

Cause or Source of
Mode or Mechanism
Harm
Substance Overdose, underdose, wrong substance

Unintentional perforation of an organ during a

Procedure
procedure

Device Dislodgement, malfunction

Mismatched blood; Patient dropped during transfer

Other cause
from OR table
Examples for the ICD–11 Quality and safety coding model

The ICD–11 quality and safety coding model is demonstrated by the examples in the
following table.

Table 2: Demonstration of the quality and safety model using examples

Example Criterion Detail

1 Case A woman has been admitted to hospital for stabilisation of
diabetes. She is erroneously prescribed three times the usual

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Example Criterion Detail

dose of an antidiabetic medication. The abnormally high dose
is given, and the patient has a hypoglycaemic episode

Harm Hypoglycaemia in the context of diabetes, unspecified 5A21

Drugs, medicaments or biologic substances associated with

Cause injury or harm in therapeutic use PL00; Medication (use
additional code, if desired) - Antidiabetic XM8S35

Mode Overdose of substance as mode of injury or harm PL13.0

Cluster 5A21/PL00&XM8S35/PL13.0

Patient presented to hospital with subdural haematoma. INR

2 Case found to be supratherapeutic while on correct dosage of
warfarin.

Harm Non-traumatic subdural haemorrhage 8B02

Drugs, medicaments or biological substances associated

Cause with injury or harm in therapeutic use PL00; Medication (use
additional code, if desired) - Warfarin XM86W0

Drug-related injury or harm in context of correct

Mode
administration or dosage, as mode of injury or harm PL13.2

Cluster 8B02/PL00&XM86W0/PL13.2

A man visits a primary care physician for removal of a skin

lump, mainly to exclude the possibility of malignancy. The
3 Case lesion is excised and the wound is sutured. It later becomes
known that the physician had Hepatitis C and the patient has
now contracted this disease.

Harm Acute hepatitis C 1E50.2

Biopsy procedure, not elsewhere classified, associated with

Cause
injury or harm in therapeutic use PK81.5

Failure of sterile precautions as mode of injury or harm

Mode
PL11.4

Cluster 1E50.2/PK81.5/PL11.4

An elderly woman is admitted due to a fractured neck of

femur. Surgical fixation is undertaken. The operative site
4 Case
bleeds heavily the day after surgery, requiring return to
theatre.

Harm Haemorrhage not elsewhere classified MG27

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Example Criterion Detail

Musculoskeletal procedure associated with injury or harm,
Cause open approach PK80.80 (Orthopaedic surgical procedures
are included here)

Unspecified mode of injury or harm associated with a surgical

or other medical procedure PL11.Z (Note: Select PL11.Z
Mode
because case documentation does not mention any specific
mode or mechanism by which haemorrhage occurred)

Cluster MG27/PK80.80/PL11.Z

A 63 year old man had a left knee-replacement less than a

5 Case year ago, because of arthritis. The implanted device has
come loose, resulting in pain and reduced function.

Pain in joint ME82; Specific Anatomy (use additional code, if

Harm desired) Knee joint XA8RL1; Laterality (use additional code,
if desired) – Left XK8G

Orthopaedic devices associated with adverse incidents,

Cause prosthetic or other implants, materials or accessory devices
PK99.2

Dislodgement, misconnection or de-attachment, as mode of

Mode
injury or harm PL12.4

Cluster ME82&XA8RL1&XK8G/PK99.2/PL12.4

A man has bowel cancer. Abdominal surgery was done

several days ago to resect the affected part of the colon and
6 Case
re-join the preserved part of the colon. The anastomosis has
leaked and required surgical revision.

Harm Postsurgical leak NE81.3 (anastomosis leak is an index term)

Gastrointestinal, abdominal, or abdominal wall procedure

Cause
associated with injury or harm in therapeutic use PK80.3

Unspecified mode of injury or harm associated with surgical

or other medical procedure PL11.Z. (Note: Select PL11.Z
Mode because case documentation does not mention any specific
mode or mechanism by which the anastomotic leak
occurred).

Cluster NE81.3/PK80.3/[PL11.Z

Refractory urinary tract infection due to chronic indwelling

7 Case
catheter.

Harm Urinary tract infection, site and agent not specified GC08.Z

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Example Criterion Detail

Gastroenterology or urology devices associated with adverse
Cause
incidents, urinary catheter PK93.10

Other specified mode of injury or harm associated with a

surgical or other medical device, implant or graft PL12.Y
Mode
(Note: Select PL12.Y because none of the more specific
mode types appears to lead to infection of device)

Cluster GC08.Z/PK93.10/PL12.Y

Elderly patient falls out of bed in a hospital and suffers a left

hip fracture. The documentation describes that the nurse
8 Case
forgot to put the bedrails in place which lead to the patients
fall.

Fracture of neck of femur, unspecified NC72.2; Laterality

Harm
(use additional code, if desired) - Left XK8G

Cause Other health care related causes of injury or harm PL10

Mode Fall in health care PL14.E

Cluster NC72.2&XK8G/PL10/PL14.E

Patient received an infusion of red blood cells and develops

severe rigors that subside after an hour. It was discovered
9 Case
that there was a blood mismatch (not ABO or Rh
incompatibility).

Harm Other serum reactions NE80.3

Cause Other health care related causes of injury or harm PL10

Mode Mismatched blood used in transfusion PL14.3

Cluster NE80.3/PL10/PL14.3

Right sided pneumothorax caused by mechanical ventilation

10 Case
in an intensive case setting

Pneumothorax, unspecified CB21.Z; Laterality (use additional

Harm
code, if desired)-Right XK9K

Ventilation associated with injury or harm in therapeutic use

Cause
PK81.0

Unspecified mode of injury or harm associated with a surgical

Mode
or other medical procedure PL11.Z

Cluster CB21.Z&XK9K/PK81.0/PL11.Z

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Note that in each of these examples, a mode/mechanism of harm is coded alongside

the cause of harm code for all cases. This is true, even when a mode of harm is not
apparent. In the latter situations, a code for ‘mode or mechanism of injury unspecified’
should be selected, for any of substance-related harm, procedure-related harm, or
device-related harm. For the ‘other health care related causes’ one needs to code the
harm (from anywhere in the classification) followed by code PL10 Other health care
related causes of injury or harm followed by the appropriate code from category PL14
Mode of injury or harm associated with other health care related causes (where there
are several mode options).

Considerations around distinguishing poisoning versus overdose of drugs,

medicaments or biologic substances in the clinical context

It is important to make a distinction between an overdose in the context of clinical care

and a poisoning that is not in a clinical context. The former would be coded using
codes in the ‘Causes of health care related harm or injury’ section of Chapter 23,
whereas poisonings would be coded in the ‘Unintentional causes’ or ‘Intentional self-
harm’ sections of Chapter 23.

The following scenarios will help to illustrate the distinction:

1. An adult medical inpatient receives an overdose of a prescribed medication,

because an excess dose is inadvertently injected by a nurse.
2. An adult inadvertently takes an overdose of their own prescribed medication,
because the physician wrote the prescription incorrectly.
3. An adult inadvertently takes an overdose of their own prescribed medication,
because they were given incorrect instructions by the pharmacist.
4. An adult inadvertently takes an overdose of their own prescribed medication,
because they misunderstood instructions on the pill bottle and verbal
instructions given to them by both the pharmacist and their doctor.
5. An adult inadvertently takes an overdose of their own prescribed medication,
and it is unclear from documentation or case investigation as to why a mistake
was made.
6. An adult takes and overdose of their own prescribed medication with
undetermined intent.
7. An adult intentionally takes an overdose of their own prescribed medication with
intent for self-harm.
8. A child ingests a number of pills from his mother’s prescribed pill bottle and
becomes somnolent.
Scenario 1 is clearly an overdose arising from an error in a health care context, while
scenario 8 is clearly a poisoning of a child who is not in a therapeutic health care
context.

Scenario 7 should also be coded as an episode of poisoning, because the pills were
not taken with a therapeutic intent, but with intent for self-harm (the ‘Intentional self-
harm’ concept overrides other considerations).

Scenarios 2 and 3 are overdoses arising from problems in a health care context (and
are coded using the’ Causes of health care related harm or injury’ codes). In both
scenarios, the context is one of medication treatment, and the actions of health care
providers.

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Scenarios 4, 5 & 6 are less straightforward, though rather common in patient care. The
context of the medication use is still clearly that of treating a medical condition and the
fact that the medication was prescribed to the patients makes it a context of therapeutic
use (provided there is no mention of intentional self-harm). Because of the therapeutic
context, these scenarios should be coded using the ‘Causes of health care related
harm or injury’ codes, rather than poisoning codes.

Overdose Flowchart
Figure 1: Flowchart for coding poisoning versus overdose.

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Instructions on when the three-part quality and safety model applies, and when it
does not

The above sections and examples describe scenarios in which an aspect of care (a
drug, procedure, device, or other aspect of care) has been causally linked to a
condition that a patient has developed. In many instances, however, conditions arise in
the health care setting without explicit documentation suggesting a causal link to an
aspect of care. Specific examples include:

 pulmonary embolism arising 2 days after a surgical procedure

 atrial fibrillation after surgery
 low blood pressure 1 day after administration of a drug
 pneumonia developing on day 4 of a hospital stay
 urinary tract infection arising in hospital without any mention of catheters

In each of these examples, the three-part model for quality and safety would NOT
apply if there is no explicit documentation asserting a causal link to another aspect of
care, whether that is a drug, procedure, device, or other aspect of care. Importantly, the
mere mention of a surgical procedure or a drug administration in the above examples,
does NOT mean that those factors played a causal role, because the clinical
statements merely declare timing of the diagnosis, with descriptive words like ‘after’,
‘following’, ‘occurring on day XX’. In such cases, the correct coding of the conditions
would be to code the medical condition from any chapter from ICD-11 along with an
extension code for timing (in particular, the extension codes for diagnoses arising
during a hospital stay, plus or minus if desired the extension codes for intraoperative or
postoperative timing of a diagnosis).

The above examples would be coded in the following way:

 BB00.0 Acute pulmonary thromboembolism &XY69 Developed after admission

&XY7V Postoperative
 BC81.3 Atrial fibrillation &XT5R Acute &XY69 Developed after admission
&XY7V Postoperative
 BA2Z Hypotension, unspecified &XY69 Developed after admission
 CA40.Z Pneumonia, organism unspecified &XY69 Developed after admission
 GC08.Z Urinary tract infection, site and agent not specified &XY69 Developed
after admission

[Link] Causation in the context of quality and safety

There are nuances of language in documentation that will indicate whether there is a
causal link between a cause and harm.

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Connecting terms implying a causal relationship

A causal relationship is strongly suggested by the following terms:

Terms Additional Notes

as (a) complication of, complicated by,
-
complicating, complication(s) of

as a cause of, cause of, caused,

-
caused by, causing

as a result of, resulted in, resulting in,

-
with resultant, with resulting

because of -

due to -

from -

induced, induced by -

leading to, led to -

related to, -

precipitated by -

producing -

secondary to -

Coding judgment call. However, the clinician is

likely related to
making a causal inference with this term

possibly secondary to, probably Coding judgment call. However, the clinician is
secondary to making a causal inference with this term

Coding judgment call. However, the clinician is

may be the reason for
making a causal inference with this term
Connecting terms where the causal relationship is unclear

Occasionally there may be connecting terms that perhaps hint at causation, but without
explicit assertion of a causal link. Examples are shown below. In these circumstances
coders need to look for supplementary wording or ancillary information that implies
causation.

Terms
Associated with

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Terms
Accompanied by
Incidental to
Connecting terms NOT implying a causal relationship

In clinical documentation, terms are often used to describe a temporal association. The
many terms listed in the preceding table (from ‘connecting terms implying a causal
relationship’) are connecting terms that do suggest a causal association that is typically
also a temporal association. In contrast, there are a number of terms that describe only
temporal associations. Examples of such terms are listed below:

Terms
after

also

and

during

with

arising in or during

consistent with

followed by, following

incurred after/during/in/when

occurred after/during/in/when/while

postoperatively, postoperative, occurred post-op

If connecting terms of this sort appear in clinical documentation without any of the
causal connectors discussed earlier, it would be best to avoid using the three-part
quality and safety model.

Terms like ‘postoperative’, ‘post-op’, ‘postprocedural’, etc., are a special situation

because these have historically been considered, in some coding systems to be
indicative of a causal link. Yet, we have shown specific examples above where
conditions such as urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and atrial fibrillation may
temporally arise after surgery, without necessarily being caused by surgery. It is for this
reason that the guidelines presented here are instructing coders to look for explicit
causal connections. (Importantly, postoperative conditions such as pneumonia, urinary
tract infection, and atrial fibrillation can still be coded with informative extension codes
that speak to timing – i.e. ‘arising during hospital stay’ and/or ‘postoperative’–and
permit the derivation of adverse events in indicators in data analysis).

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Other specific situations where the clinical context implies a causal relationship

There are some clinical situations where there may not be connecting terms that
explicitly point to causation, but where the clinical circumstances nevertheless are
clearly pointing to causation. Some examples appear below:

Specific situations
failed device

infected device

loose screws

postprocedural bleeding

post-op wound infection

dehiscence

wound hematoma
In each of these, it is clear that the situation would not have occurred in the absence of
a procedure or a device problem. Accordingly, the three-part quality and safety model
should be applied.

In contrast, conditions such as postoperative pneumonia or postoperative pulmonary

embolism, or postoperative atrial fibrillation are different than the specific situations
listed in the table above. This is because problems such as pneumonia, pulmonary
embolism, or atrial fibrillation can be triggered by factors beyond the surgical procedure
(i.e., different from a ‘wound’ that is without question caused by surgery).

[Link] Chronic postprocedural conditions

There are many chronic clinical conditions that occur either as a consequence of
specific procedures and techniques or as a result of the removal of an organ,
e.g. postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome, post-irradiation hypothyroidism. In many
instances, codes for such chronic post procedural conditions are located in ICD-11
within various body system chapters.

Examples include:

 BE10 Postcardiotomy syndrome

 5D40.Z Postprocedural hypothyroidism, unspecified
 GC72 Postprocedural urethral stricture
 GC70 Postoperative adhesions of vagina

These are, by their very nature, somewhat precoordinated codes that capture both the
notion of a clinical condition and the notion of it being caused by a procedure. Some
may wish to simply use such codes on alone without any clustering. However, we
recommend that coders still use the 3 part model with such codes when possible,
because the model allows one to add more specificity of clinical detail around the

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specific type of surgical procedure that caused the condition, and also potentially the
mode through which the procedure caused the condition.

Example 1: Urethral stricture due to previous radiation for treatment of prostate cancer.
Code to GC72 Postprocedural urethral stricture Further detail can be added to the code
GC72 with the addition of: PK81.C Radiation therapy associated with injury or harm in
therapeutic use PL11.Y Other specified mode of injury or harm associated with a
surgical or other medical procedure Cluster: GC72/PK81.C/PL11.Y

Adverse events and circumstances in health care that do not cause actual injury
or harm

There are many instances in the context of health care where things happen to
patients, and where problems arise, but where there is no actual adverse consequence
to the patient as a recorded medical condition. Specific examples include:

 A fall in the health care setting without fracture or other injury

 An incorrect drug administered without harm to patient
 A drug given to the wrong patient without harm to patient
 A delay in drug administration without negative effect on clinical course
 Documented failure of sterile precautions in a surgical procedure without
ensuing infection
 Dislodged orthopaedic device without symptoms or problems
 Inadvertent needle stick without documented injury or other harm

In these circumstances, codes should be chosen from Chapter 24 Factors influencing

health status or contact with health services in the section of codes entitled ‘Health
care related circumstances influencing the episode of care, without documented injury
or harm’. These codes are organised using the four categories of health care related
harm that appear in Chapter 23 External causes of morbidity or mortality (drugs,
devices, procedures and other health care related causes), but with the important
distinction that the circumstances being described through coding did NOT cause
actual harm to the patient.

The above examples would be coded in the following way:

 QA8E Fall in health care without documented injury or harm

 QA72 Incorrect substance without documented injury or harm
 QA8D Patient received diagnostic test or treatment intended for another patient
without documented injury or harm
 QA8B Delayed treatment without documented injury or harm
 QA52 Failure of sterile precautions without documented injury or harm
 QA62 Dislodgement, misconnection or de-attachment without documented injury
or harm
 QA8F Needle stick without documented injury or harm

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Figure 1: Summary algorithm for coding events and conditions that arise in the context
of health care

Q&S Algorithm
[Link] Recommendations for data capture and organisation
Information systems must be capable of capturing the three components, and marking
the three codes as belonging to the same cluster (see also instructions for
postcoordination and cluster coding).

[Link] Recommendations for use and interpretation of coded data

These recommendations apply to the use of records in which data were captured and
organised as recommended in the previous section:

 Select records involving a quality or patient safety event: these are all records
with any quality or patient safety harm code.
 Summarise types of quality or patient safety harm represented in a set of
records: select records with any quality or patient safety harm code.
 Summarise the distribution of quality or patient safety Harm codes present in the
selected set.
 Summarise quality or patient safety causes of harm in a set of records.

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 Summarise quality or patient safety mechanisms in a set of records.

 Summarise quality or patient safety harm in a set of records.

2.26 Morbidity for research purposes

The morbidity use case for ICD–11 includes a number of situations where the primary
goal is to work in an academic research paradigm to extract information from ICD–11
coded data to study burden of disease, clusters of disease, geographic distribution of
diseases, and health impacts associated with various diseases. The research paradigm
is of course most relevant when it has translational relevance to either health system
policy or public health policy, in which case the research paradigm, labelled as such,
becomes indistinguishable from applied morbidity analyses conducted for the purposed
of health planning. Nevertheless, explicit mention is made here of the widespread use
of ICD–11 coded data in a research paradigm, recognising that this is one of the
significant drivers for developing a clinically rich and detailed classification system, with
novel features and coding rules that enhance the classification’s potential as a
research tool.

2.26.1 Morbidity in primary care

Primary care has been defined as essential front line health care based on practical,
scientifically sound, and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally
accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation
and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain. Of relevance
to primary care, ICD–11 includes many diagnostic and disease entities that are
common reasons for care at the first level of health services.

ICD–11 has various primary care tabular lists depending on the resource level. A
primary care tabular list for low resource settings enables simple reporting of broader
concepts. An International Classification of Disease for Primary Care (ICD-PCI) has
been developed by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and
Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA), through
its WONCA International Classification Committee (WICC). WONCA and the WHO
have collaborated in the development of the ICD-11-PCL , a tabulation from the ICD-11
JLMS classification, by filling in previous gaps in the ICD for primary care use and
selecting the classes from the JLMS important for primary care The new version of
WONCA’s International Classification of Primary Care and the ICD–11 will share as
good as possible a common subset of categories.

The ICD–11 has a simplified version shaped for low resource primary care settings. For
high resource settings, the tabular list for mortality and morbidity statistics contains
elements relevant to primary care and is thus able to be used in high resource
environments for primary care, as well as for secondary and tertiary care.

2.26.2 Casemix groupings

In casemix grouping systems such as the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system, ICD
based data are used for reimbursement or resource allocation. Such systems are used
in systematic fashion (nationwide) in over 22 countries for reimbursement or resource
allocation.

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The assignment of patient cases to groups is based on an algorithm using, in addition

to coded diagnosis information, coded procedures, and a number of other variables.
The scientific basis of the casemix systems is grounded in health care economics and
in the theory of medicine. Since casemix systems are an essential part of
administration in countries that use them, smooth transfer to the new revision of the
ICD in these systems is essential for the approval and implementation of the new
revision.

ICD–11 has been developed to accommodate the different levels of detail that are
required in diagnosis-related casemix groupings, in close collaboration with the
custodians of the diverse casemix systems. Joint use in a specific casemix system is
driven by the relevant grouper algorithms, and partly also by national legislation. For
matters of international comparability of hospital activity, it is recommended that
countries adopt the new WHO definition of main diagnosis and country
implementations of ICD–11 apply the new extension codes for the type of diagnosis
that are provided with ICD–11. For international tabulations, the resulting diagnoses
are listed with the aid of the International Shortlist for Hospital Morbidity Tabulation.

2.26.3 Traditional Medicine Conditions - Module 1 (TM1)

Traditional Medicine (TM) is an integral part of health services provided in many
countries. International standardisation by including Traditional Medicine conditions
within the ICD allows for measuring, counting, comparing, formulating questions and
monitoring over time. ICD-11’s supplementary chapter on Traditional Medicine
disorders and patterns (TM1) is designed to be used in conjunction with the Western
Medicine concepts of ICD Chapters 1-25.

As with other ICD chapters, the TM1 chapter is a tool for classifying, diagnosing,
counting, communicating and comparing TM conditions, it will also assist research and
evaluation to assess the safety and efficacy of TM. This chapter not judging or
endorsing TM practice or the efficacy of any TM intervention.

2.26.4 Use in Traditional Medicine

Reporting at regional, national and international levels:

 Counting episodes of care for Traditional Medicine disorders and/or patterns in

the same way as for Western Medicine diseases for morbidity data reporting
purposes
 Counting episodes of care by Traditional Medicine practitioners who may use a
combination of Western Medicine and Traditional Medicine terminology
 Describing and quantifying utilisation of Traditional Medicine services and
reasons for encounter
 Monitoring use of resources for Traditional Medicine services
 Standardising descriptions of disorders and patterns among TM clinicians,
practitioners and coders
Research:

 On safety and efficacy of Traditional Medicine interventions - evidence based

research
 Clinical research within TM framework and integrating WM with TM
 On interrelationships between WM diseases, TM disorders and patterns

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 To study treatment patterns and outcomes for specific disorders and patterns
using ICD-11 in conjunction with country specific procedure classifications and
the TM component of the intended International Classification of Health
Interventions (ICHI)

Casemix reimbursement and insurance:

 There are precedents in China, Japan, and Korea for use of existing TM
classifications (with or without WM concepts) for reimbursement of hospitals and
for insurance claims.
 Incorporating TM as a chapter of ICD-11 allows much greater scope for
describing patient condition (diseases, disorders (TM1) and patterns (TM1)
across the WM and TM1 chapters) as well as complications and comorbidities
and for clinical costing measures.

Quality and safety of care:

 Standardising use of codes reflecting quality and safety of care between WM

diseases and TM1 disorders will allow TM practitioners to interpret data from
ICD-11 on quality, safety, and efficacy of care.
Education:

 Educating TM practitioners in regard to standardisation of diagnosis

 Educating TM clinicians and coders in application and interpretation of ICD-11
data.
Standardising terminology for use in electronic health records:

 To enable more consistent and efficient recording and extraction of data

 To allow computer assisted coding of TM1 disorders and patterns

2.26.5 Traditional Medicine section of ICD-11 update and

maintenance:
 Through user feedback, use of TM1 and WM codes and need for coding
guidelines will be monitored. This will bring Traditional Medicine practitioners
and users into the WHO-FIC mechanisms to update ICD-11 and ensure its
clinical and technological currency.
2.26.6 Coding instructions for Traditional Medicine conditions
- Module 1 (TM1)
[Link] General principles & rules for coding Traditional Medicines
Codes from the Traditional Medicine chapter can be used across settings (hospital
inpatient or ambulatory care in hospital or community) but must not be used for
reporting cause of death. When coding in primary care, disorders and patterns may not
be fully developed so that it may be more feasible to identify reason for encounter
rather than main condition and associated conditions.

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General principles:

 Consult all parts of the patient record including discharge summary, history,
physical examination, investigations, laboratory data, treatments and final
diagnoses
 Coding should relate to reasons for treatment during this episode and need not
describe the whole patient’s lifetime history unless a past condition affects
current care
 Be as specific and explicit as possible, using codes to represent aetiology,
pathology and manifestations of TM condition
 Use codes from relevant chapters of the ICD to match the clinical disorders
noted on the patient record
 Code threatened TM conditions (i.e. those not well defined or not manifest)

[Link] Choice of integrated coding with other chapters of ICD-11 or

stand-alone coding from TM1 chapter
Traditional medicine practitioners or clinical coders may use the codes in the TM1
chapter in two ways:

 in conjunction with other chapters of ICD-11 (integrated coding)

 as a stand-alone chapter choosing codes from within the TM Chapter 26

This choice depends on the legitimate coding practice of each country and the
educational background of TM practitioners and TM coders (i.e. WM education is
needed for WM coding and TM education for TM). It may also be influenced by the
setting and regulatory context in which TM1 codes are being applied. Wherever
possible, it is recommended that TM1 codes should be combined with those from the
WM chapters to enable international comparison.

2.26.7 Using the TM1 chapter with other chapters of ICD-11

This option takes into account the country and practice variations of using a code for
WM disease or TM1 disorder and/or a TM1 pattern code for a given clinical picture. In
this case, codes should be applied for WM diseases and/or TM1 disorder from
Chapters 01-26 plus pattern(s) (TM1) from Chapter 26.

Coding

1. Read the patient summary and medical record.

2. Select WM diagnosis/diagnoses, TM1 disorder(s) (TM1), and/or pattern(s) (TM1)
to be coded.
3. Options Examples
a. WM diagnosis alone Asthma

b. WM diagnosis with TM1 pattern Asthma

Turbid phlegm accumulation in the lung

pattern (TM1)

c. WM diagnosis with TM1 disorder Asthma

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3. Options Examples
Wheezing disorder (TM1)

WM diagnosis with TM1 disorder and

d. Asthma
TM1 pattern

Wheezing disorder (TM1)

Turbid phlegm accumulation in the lung

pattern (TM1)

e. TM1 disorder with TM1 pattern Wheezing disorder (TM1)

Turbid phlegm accumulation in the lung

pattern (TM1)

f. TM1 disorder alone Wheezing disorder (TM1)

Turbid phlegm accumulation in the lung

g. TM1 pattern alone
pattern (TM1)
You may choose more than one disorder (TM1) and more than one pattern (TM1) from
the TM chapter.

3. Consult the electronic Coding Tool or relevant Alphabetic Indexes for WM and
TM1 entries
4. Go to tabular list for the relevant code. Take note of inclusions and exclusion
notes and textual descriptions.
5. Assign the appropriate code and follow any specific guidelines for that code.
6. A possible scenario may be either for choice of disorders (TM1) or WM diseases
as main condition and/or for associated disorders (TM1) or WM diseases. In this
scenario, codes may be chosen for disease or diseases from Chapters 1-25 of
ICD-11 plus disorder(s) (TM1) from Chapter 26. In either case, pattern(s) (TM1)
from Chapter 26 may be used in association with the codes for disease or
disorder (TM1). To code from Chapters 1-25, consult the Coding Tool or
Alphabetic Index for Western Medicine chapters to assign code. To code from
Chapter 26, consult the Coding Tool or Alphabetic Index for Traditional
Medicine.

This use of the entire ICD-11 (Chapters 01-26) for Traditional Medicine may be
especially relevant for neoplasms and injury, chronic and complicated conditions, sub-
clinical or constitutional complaints, external cause of injury and adverse reaction. The
electronic Coding Tool has a feature of switching on or off the combined use of WM
and TM1 codes so that there is only one place to search for WM diseases or TM1
disorders and patterns.

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Example:

ICD-11 Coding
Options Examples
Examples
a. WM diagnosis alone Asthma CA23.32

WM diagnosis with TM1

b. Asthma CA23.32
pattern

Turbid phlegm accumulation in

SF86
the lung pattern (TM1)

WM diagnosis with TM1

c. Asthma CA23.32
disorder

Wheezing disorder (TM1) SF81

WM diagnosis with TM1

d. Asthma CA23.32
disorder and TM1 pattern

Wheezing disorder (TM1) SF81

Turbid phlegm accumulation in

SF86
the lung pattern (TM1)

TM1 disorder with TM1

e. Wheezing disorder (TM1) SF81
pattern

Turbid phlegm accumulation in

SF86
the lung pattern (TM1)

f. TM1 disorder alone Wheezing disorder (TM1) SF81

Turbid phlegm accumulation in

g. TM1 pattern alone SF86
the lung pattern (TM1)
Sequencing

If there are both Western Medicine diseases and Traditional Medicine disorders (TM1),
use either as main condition, depending on whichever meets the definition of main
condition. Also, consult this section for details on allocation of main condition in
different scenarios.

‘The definition of main condition is to be applied for both inpatients and outpatients.
(Importantly, and as mentioned earlier, this is a change in the WHO’s main condition
definition that existed in ICD-10). Record/identify as the main condition the one
condition that is determined to be the reason for admission, established at the end of
the episode of health care.’

Where both WM disease and TM1 disorder qualify equally as main condition, code the
WM disease first. Pattern(s) (TM1) should follow either the Western Medicine disease
or disorder (TM1).
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How to code for Traditional Medicine with WM and TM1 codes

Code first: Disease(s) from chapter 1-25

Code additional Disease(s) from chapter 1-25, Disorder(s) (TM1) from chapter 26,
Pattern(s) (TM1) from chapter 26

National and international coding

There may be some variation between countries in the use of WM diseases together
with disorders (TM1) and patterns (TM1). Some countries may wish to use WM
diseases from Chapters 1-25 with patterns (TM1) from Chapter 26, or to use disorders
(TM1) from Chapter 26 with secondary diagnoses from Chapters 1-25 plus pattern(s)
(TM1) from Chapter 26. Traditional Medicine practitioners can work with colleagues in
other countries and with Western Medicine practitioners in their own country to make
ICD-11 a positive tool in understanding their own practice and contributing to
information not currently available about Traditional Medicine utilisation and outcomes.

Use of Extension Codes and Cluster Codes for Traditional Medicine

TM practitioners are encouraged to use codes from Section X ‘Extension codes’ to

describe additional features of a disorder or pattern and its characteristics. Also, the
new feature in ICD-11 of clustering related diagnoses will be helpful in linking disorders
and patterns.

Examples

A. Injuries using Chapters 1-26:

o Main condition: from Chapter 26. SC5Z Joint impediment disorders
(TM1), unspecified, or condition from the injury chapter should be used
together with codes from the External Cause chapter
o a pattern (TM1) code, if appropriate.
B. Disorders such as migraine are coded (using Chapters 1-26) as:

Main condition SD10 Migraine disorder (TM1), in conjunction with a

- Disorder (TM1) from Chapter 26 SD1Z Headache disorders (TM1), unspecified) and/or
- pattern (TM1) such as SH71 Small yin type yang depletion pattern (TM1)
C. Diseases such as diabetes mellitus are coded using Chapters 1-26 as:
o Main condition Type 2 diabetes mellitus, 5A11
o Wasting thirst disorder (TM1), SH71
o Large Yin type Dryness Heat pattern (TM1), SH63

or from Chapter 26 alone as:

 Main condition Wasting thirst disorder (TM1), SD71

 Large Yin type Dryness Heat pattern (TM1), SH63

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2.26.8 Using the TM1 chapter as a stand-alone choosing

codes from within the TM1 Chapter
In this case, codes may be applied for disorder(s) (TM1) from the TM1 chapter plus
pattern(s) (TM1) from the TM1 chapter. However, there may be circumstances where a
disorder (TM1) code may be applied alone or where a pattern (TM1) code may be
applied alone.

Coding

1. Read the patient summary or medical record.

2. Select disorder(s) (TM1) and/or pattern(s) (TM1) to be coded.

Options:

a. TM1 disorder with TM1 pattern

b. TM1 disorder alone

c. TM1 pattern alone

d. You may choose more than one disorder or pattern.

3. Consult keyword in electronic Coding Tool or Alphabetic Index for TM and

choose appropriate entry and code (take note of lead terms and sub-lead terms
plus ‘see’ and ‘see also’ references). Using the hierarchical order of the key
word or index is critical in finding the relevant code.
4. Go to tabular list for that code. Take note of inclusion and exclusion notes and
textual description or diagnostic criteria.
5. Assign clinically appropriate code and follow any specific guidelines for that
code.

Sequencing

In the first place, a ‘main condition’ code is selected using the definition quoted above.

As well as main condition, it is important to code all additional current disorders (TM1)
or patterns (TM1) documented in the patient record to ensure that they reflect a
complete picture of the patient’s condition for the episode of care. In most Traditional
Medicine cases there will be a disorder (TM1) and a pattern (TM1). However, it may be
necessary to code disorder (TM1) alone or pattern (TM1) alone. However, when
combined disorder (TM1) and pattern (TM1) are both coded, choose disorder (TM1) as
the main condition.

The most usual scenario is to have both disorder and pattern, with codes listed in order
so that the first (disorder (TM1)) complies with the definition of main condition. If it is
not relevant to code both a disorder (TM1) and a pattern (TM1), either may be coded
alone. If it is not possible to code a disorder (TM1), pattern (TM1) may be sequenced
as the main condition

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How to code for traditional medicine using TM1 chapter alone

Code first: Disorder(s) (TM1)

Code second: Pattern(s) (TM1)

National versus international rules

There may be some variation within and between countries in the way in which
sections of the TM1 chapter are used. Setting may influence the stage at which a
condition presents or there may be historical or local practices affecting choice and
precision of coding.

Examples

 TM1 disorder and/or TM1 pattern

 Precoordination examples
o One code for two disorders
o One code for two patterns (No codes for combination of disorder and
pattern)
 Postcoordination examples
o 2 or more codes for one disorder
o 2 or more codes for one pattern

2.27 General statistical recommendations

2.27.1 Data quality
To ensure high quality of data, processes for monitoring the data quality need to be
implemented. This is referred to as Quality Assurance. On the following pages you will
find some suggestions on how to apply Quality Assurance for mortality and morbidity
statistics. As a basic principle, those responsible for the collection and analysis of data
should be involved in the development of the protocol for processing and coding
diagnostic data, and other items to be cross-tabulated with them. Collecting quality
data requires a clearly designed workflow (from reporting to coding to analysis), and
adequate training of all involved parties. In particular, all parties need to understand the
process and their part in it. The basic stages of the process include:

1. Reporting – This is where the information starts. Identifying a condition and

reporting it on a death certificate or on other medical forms needs to be carried
out with accuracy and using the best possible evidence. For this reason, this
part should always be carried out by a well-trained and experienced physician.
2. Verification or reports – Feedback loops and queries to the reporters help to
further specify unclear information and illogical statements. Grouping and
analysis – Both serve to aggregate data in ways that are determined by the
diverse use cases. Rules and constraints should be clearly understood and
communicated when carrying out the task and presenting this task.

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2.27.2 Specificity versus ill-defined codes

Reported information should be coded to the highest level of detail possible. In some
instances, not much information or only trivial information is available. Though the ICD
also provides categories for these cases, such information does neither really allow
treatment nor prevention of disease.

2.27.3 Problems of a small population

Population size is one of the factors that need to be considered when the health status
of a population is assessed by means of mortality or morbidity data. In countries with
small populations, the annual numbers of events in many categories will be very small
and may fluctuate from year to year. For example, especially when separated for age
and sex. The problems can be alleviated through one or more of the following
measures:

 use or presentation of broad groupings of ICD rubrics, such as chapters

 aggregation of data over a longer period, e.g. to take the preceding two years of
data together with those for the current year and produce a ‘moving average’
figure
 using the broadest possible age groupings is recommended

The recommendations that apply for small national populations also hold true, in
general, for subnational segments of larger populations. Investigations of health issues
in population subgroups have to take into consideration the effect of the size of each of
the subgroups on the type of analysis used. This need is generally recognised when
dealing with sample surveys, but often overlooked when the investigation concerns the
health problems of special groups in a national population.

2.27.4 ‘Empty cells’ and cells with low frequencies

Regardless of the list of causes being used, it may be found that no cases for one or
more listed cause occur in certain cells of a statistical table. Where there are many
empty lines in a table, it is worth considering the omission of such lines from a
published table or from a computer printout. When only the occasional case of a
disease occurs in a country, the line can be regularly omitted from the published
statistical table and a footnote added to indicate either that there were no cases or,
when sporadic cases do occur, in which cell the case would have appeared. For cells
with very low frequencies, especially those relating to diseases that would not be
expected to occur, it is important to establish that the cases existed and did not result
from a coding or processing error. This should be carried out as part of the general
quality control of the data.

2.27.5 Precautions needed when tabulation lists include

subtotals
It may not always be apparent to those processing the data that some of the items in
the tabulation lists are in fact subtotals. These items may include titles of blocks and
titles of three- character categories (in the four-character list of ICD–11) or the items for
chapter titles (in the condensed versions of the mortality tabulation lists). These entries
should be ignored when totals are calculated, otherwise cases may be counted more
than once.

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2.27.6 Ethical Aspects

Confidentiality refers to the obligation of not disclosing information (data) about
information delivered in confidence to third parties. This duty was codified in the
Hippocratic Oath in the 4th century BCE and is still one of the core principles of
medical ethics. Any information that might allow the identification of a specific person
should only be viewed by people who are authorised to do so. Authorisation means
that a person is legally permitted to look at the information. E.g. medical staff, coroners,
and coders are all people who can be authorised to see sensitive information.

Generally, the only way for confidential information to become publicly accessible is
through legislation, statutes, and regulations. Sometimes confidential information can
become public record after a certain period of time. For instance, in some regions of
the world only the passage of time can render death certificates as a matter of public
record and, therefore, no longer remain confidential.

The authorised supplier of confidential information must verify that the requesting
person is an authorised user and determine their level of authorisation. The supplier
must be aware of the level of information that can be made available to the authorised
user and take appropriate steps to guard against unauthorised disclosure. The
authorised user must not attempt to gain access to information which they are not
authorised to view. Additionally, the user must also guard against unauthorised access
to the information. This means that users must secure the confidential information and
any recordings of that information in a way that prevents unauthorised viewing. They
must only use the information for appropriate purposes and they must return the
information as required. National legal frameworks, state and local regulations, and
institutional guidelines provide specific rules and information regarding how to maintain
confidentiality.

2.27.7 Avoidance of Potential Harm

Direct and serious harm can result from a breach of confidentiality. For example, the
disclosure of sensitive information can potentially lead to stigma and discrimination
against an individual. Conversely, greater harm can result from maintaining
confidentiality than from not doing so. Some circumstances may require a judgement
that involves balancing the harms to, against the interests of, the patient, deceased
person and other relevant parties. A person may suffer ‘harm’ physically, socially, or
psychologically as a result of a breach of confidentiality. A confidential diagnosis that is
breached makes the patient lose faith or trust in the clinician, and the patient may then
suffer abuse from another person or suffer the stigma associated with certain
conditions. In other circumstances the nondisclosure of one person’s confidential
information may result in another individual or a community being at risk of developing
a harmful condition or being exposed to a harmful situation.

This is a difficult concept and one that must be approached in a thoughtful way. As
previously mentioned, there are times when it is justifiable to give others confidential
information, such as when reporting communicable disease incidence. In such cases
the reporting of confidential information is usually allowed. This is an example of where
the nondisclosure of a disease could result in major harm to others.

If it is necessary to disclose information, it is preferable to speak with the relevant

person and let them know about the need to do so. In some cases, this may not be

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possible or appropriate, and users should be guided by legal and institutional

guidelines. We must seriously consider the harms that can be caused by disclosure of
certain information. Some information that can be particularly sensitive includes tests
for genetic disorders and diseases, incidence of communicable diseases, and HIV test
results. Sometimes there are special requests for confidentiality that may require
increased levels of confidentiality assurances. These special requests cannot
supersede legal requirements for disclosure but should be respected when possible.

2.27.8 Security of Privacy – Confidentiality

Privacy relates to protecting an individual’s control over what personal information and
decisions may or may not be shared with others. For instance, when a physician
examines or speaks with a patient it is usually done in a non-public area so that the
information given to the physician by the patient cannot be heard by anyone else. It
also enables the physician to give a patient their diagnosis in private. Data are
forwarded with consent by the patient. Security of privacy and confidentiality of health
(and other) data are usually addressed by national laws and regulations.

2.28 Recommendations in relation to

statistical tables for international
comparison
Recommendations standardise the presentation of the data which allows international
comparison of the different countries or regions.

2.28.1 The recommended special tabulation lists

There are standard ways of listing causes coded according to the ICD, and there are
formal recommendations concerning lists for tabulation that allow for international
comparison. In other tabulations, the hierarchical structure of the ICD allows
considerable flexibility for possible groupings. For mortality the ICD includes special
tabulation lists in which are intended for circumstances in which the four-character list
is too detailed, and are designed so that international comparison of significant
diseases and groups of diseases is not compromised by different groupings having
been used in different countries.

The special tabulation lists are:

 List 1 General mortality condensed list (103 causes)

 List 2 General mortality selected list (80 causes)
 List 3 Infant and child mortality condensed list (67 causes)
 List 4 Infant and child mortality selected list (51 causes)
 List 5 General morbidity (298 causes)
 List 6 International Shortlist for Hospital Morbidity Tabulation (ISHMT) (148
groups)
 List 7 Infectious diseases by agent condensed list
 List 8 SDG
 List 9 WHO Verbal autopsy list

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Use of prefixes to identify the mortality lists

Use of the numerical prefixes prevents confusion between the special tabulation lists,
as the ICD four-character codes have a letter in the second position. Where an
adapted list is used for national or sub-national purposes, an alternative identifying
prefix should be used.

The condensed lists for mortality

The two condensed lists, List 1 and List 3, provide items for each ICD chapter and also,
within most chapters, identify the items of the selected lists together with residual items
entitled ‘Remainder of…’. Together, these lists complete the coverage of the respective
chapter. They condense the full range of ICD four-character codes into a manageable
number of items for numerous publication purposes.

The selected lists for mortality

The two selected lists, List 2 and List 4, contain items within most ICD chapters, for
conditions and external causes significant for the monitoring and analysis of population
health status and mortality-related health concerns at both national and international
levels. Chapter totals are not provided and only a few chapters have residual rubrics
that enable such totals to be obtained.

Locally designed lists for mortality

For most countries, the four special tabulation lists from List 1 to 4 provide enough
information on the most important diseases and external causes of death. They also
facilitate comparison over time and observation of shifts in the relative frequencies as
health programmes take effect, of e.g. infectious diseases and degenerative diseases.
They permit comparison between sub-national areas and population sub-groups. In
addition, they make meaningful international comparisons of causes of death possible.

When there is no need for international comparison, lists similar to the special
tabulation lists can be designed for local use. The ICD rubrics in such lists can be
selected and grouped in any way. Special lists would be needed, for example, for
monitoring progress, in terms of morbidity and mortality, of many local health
programmes. When adapting the special tabulation lists to national requirements, or
when a tabulation list is being devised for a new or special project, a trial run is helpful
by counting the number of cases for each four-character category. In such way, it can
be determined which conditions are appropriate for broad grouping, and where
subcategories would be necessary.

Where a local list is constructed, the key to the condensed categories should contain
the same four- (or five-) character codes of the core classification.

The general list for morbidity

The morbidity special tabulation list is intended as a basis for national lists and for inter-
country comparison. National lists can be constructed by either condensing or
expanding the core classification as appropriate. The list is suitable for data on
inpatient care and, with suitable adaptation – notable aggregation of some items and

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expansion of items relating to Chapter 21 ‘Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not

elsewhere classified’ and Chapter 24 ‘Factors influencing health status and contact
with health services’ – for information from other sources, such as ambulatory care and
surveys.

When a local list is constructed, the key to the condensed categories should contain
the four (or five) character codes of the core classification. The list has been designed
for international comparisons of hospital morbidity statistics. This concise list allows for
comparison of hospital activity, independent of health systems, and based on the
version of the ICD in use. The conditions have been selected in a way that they can
always be treated in an admission of at least 24 hours. If, after examination of the
frequencies of the ICD four-character rubrics, it is necessary to expand the list, some of
the items within ICD categories can be subdivided according to the core classification
or even to the five-character level. If the recommended list is too detailed or if a shorter
list is required, selection can be made based on national or local health concerns.
Depending on a country’s ‘epidemiological profile’, categories may be combined to
shorten the list.

2.28.2 International morbidity reporting

International morbidity reporting and comparison of data among different countries
requires internationally agreed definitions of:

 inpatient, recoding of day-patients, outpatient

 hospital
 treatment episode
 reason for encounter used instead of diagnosis

[Link] Minimum data set and markup for cluster coding

A minimum data set suitable for international comparison would include age, sex, main
diagnosis, (reason for admission after assessment at the end of the stay), and health
sector (hospital, practitioner, other), and is ideally accompanied by the definitions in
place for the variables mentioned above. The markup for international reporting of
postcoordinated codes in clusters will follow the specifications below:

 a slash ‘/’ separates 2 stem codes

 an ‘&’ links stem codes with extension codes
 a cluster may consist of a single code or One condition with additional detail in
one cluster
 stem code&extension code&extension code

Two unrelated conditions will have two clusters:

 stem code - stem code

Two clusters with multiple codes:

 stem code&extension code/stem code&extension code&extension code

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Example 1:

Diabetes mellitus / Diabetic retinopathy

Example 2:

Multiple fractures of forearm / fracture of shaft of ulna & compound fracture / fracture of
shaft of radius & compound fracture /external cause code

2.28.3 Presentation of statistical tables

The degree of detail in cross-classification by cause, sex, age, and geographical area
will depend both on the purpose and range of the statistics and on the practical limits to
their tabulation. The following patterns, which are designed to promote international
compatibility, present standard ways of expressing various characteristics. Where a
different classification is used in published tables (e.g. in age-grouping) it should be
reducible to one of the recommended groupings.

a. Analysis by the International Classification of Diseases should, as appropriate,

be in accordance with:
o the detailed list of four-character categories, with or without five-character
subcategories;
o one of the special tabulation lists for mortality;
o the special tabulation list for morbidity.
b. Age classification for general purposes:
o under 1 year, single year to 4 years, 5-year groups from 5 to 84 years, 85
years and over, 95 years and over;
o under 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-14 years, 15-24 years, 25-34 years, 35-44
years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years, 65-74 years, 75 years and over.
o under 1 year, 1-14 years, 15-44 years, 45-64 years, 65 years and over.
c. Classification by area should, as appropriate, be in accordance with:
o each major civil division;
o each town or conurbation of 1,000,000 population and over, otherwise the
largest town with a population of at least 100,000;
o a national aggregate of urban areas of 100,000 population and over;
o a national aggregate of urban areas of less than 100,000 population;
o a national aggregate of rural areas.

Note 1. Statistics relating to (c) should include the definitions used of urban and rural.

Note 2. In countries where medical certification of the cause of death is incomplete or

limited to certain areas, figures for deaths not medically certified should be published
separately.

[Link] Tabulation of causes of death

Statistics of causes of death for a defined area should be in accordance with
recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (a)(1) above, or, if this is not possible, with
recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (a)(2). Deaths should preferably be classified by
sex and age group as in recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (b)(3). Statistics of causes
of deaths for the areas in recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (c) should comply with
recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (a)(2), or if this is not possible, with

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recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (a)(3). They should preferably be tabulated by sex

and age group as in recommendation ‘Statistical tables’ (b)(2).

[Link] Injury mortality

Injury mortality traditionally distinguishes between injuries that are caused by:

 Interpersonal violence and sexual abuse

 Collective violence including wars, civil insurrections and riots
 Traffic collisions
 Incidents at home, at work, and while participating in sports and other
recreational activities
 In the context of mortality, the WHO recommends the retention of both codes for
injury and external causes. In places where this is not feasible, the external
cause code should be retained. For injury-related deaths, the external cause
code is the single underlying cause of death code, and the ICD–11 external
cause code incorporates the intent, mechanism, and object of the deceased in a
single code. Pace of occurrence and activity are coded separately.

2.28.4 Standards and reporting requirements for mortality in

perinatal and related periods
Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of
conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation,
breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of
the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the
umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached; each product of such a birth is
considered liveborn.

[Link] Foetal death and live birth

Foetal death is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a
product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated
by the fact that after such separation the foetus does not breathe or show any other
evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite
movement of voluntary muscles.

Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of
conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation,
breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of
the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the
umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached; each product of such a birth is
considered liveborn.

Refer to Section [Link] for special instructions on coding of foetal death and live
birth.

Birth weight is the first weight of the foetus or newborn obtained after birth. For live
births, birth weight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life before
significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. While statistical tabulations include 500
g groupings for birth weight, weights should not be recorded in those groupings. The
actual weight should be recorded to the degree of accuracy to which it is measured.

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The definitions of ‘low’, ‘very low’, and ‘extremely low’ birth weight do not constitute
mutually exclusive categories. Below the set limits they are all inclusive and therefore
overlap (i.e. ‘low’ includes ‘very low’ and ‘extremely low’, while ‘very low’ includes
‘extremely low’).

 Low birth weight: Less than 2500 g (up to and including 2499 g).
 Very low birth weight: Less than 1500 g (up to and including 1499 g).
 Extremely low birth weight: Less than 1000 g (up to and including 999 g).

The duration of gestation is measured from the first day of the last normal menstrual
period. Gestational age is expressed in completed days or completed weeks
(e.g. events occurring 280 to 286 completed days after the onset of the last normal
menstrual period are considered to have occurred at 40 weeks of gestation).
Gestational age is frequently a source of confusion, when calculations are based on
menstrual dates. For the purposes of calculation of gestational age from the date of the
first day of the last normal menstrual period to the date of delivery, it should be borne in
mind that the first day is day zero and not day one; days 0-6 therefore correspond to
‘completed week zero’; days 7-13 to ‘completed week one’; and the 40th week of actual
gestation is synonymous with ‘completed week 39’. Where the date of the last normal
menstrual period is not available, gestational age should be based on the best clinical
estimate.

In order to avoid misunderstanding, tabulations should indicate both weeks and days.

 Pre-term: Less than 37 completed weeks (less than 259 days) of gestation.
 Term: From 37 completed weeks to less than 42 completed weeks (259 to 293
days) of gestation.
 Post-term: 42 completed weeks or more (294 days or more) of gestation.
 Perinatal period: The perinatal period commences at 22 completed weeks (154
days) of gestation (the time when birth weight is normally 500 g) and ends seven
completed days after birth.
 Neonatal period: The neonatal period commences at birth and ends 28
completed days after birth.

[Link] Child mortality

Child mortality (Under-5 mortality rate – probability of dying by age of 5 years) is a
leading indicator of the level of child health, quality of life, health infrastructure, and
overall development in countries. It is also the SDG indicator 3.2.1.

[Link] Infant mortality

Infant mortality (infant mortality rate – probability of dying by age of 1 year) refers to
death of children under the age of 1 year. It is an indicator for quality of life and health
infrastructure.

[Link] Neonatal mortality

Neonatal deaths (deaths among live births during the first 28 completed days of life)
may be subdivided into early neonatal deaths, occurring during the first 7 days of life,
and late neonatal deaths, occurring after the 7th day but before 28 completed days of
life. Neonatal mortality rate (probability of dying by the first 28 completed days of life,
expressed per 1000 live births) is also the SDG indicator 3.2.2

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[Link] Certification and recording of perinatal mortality

The reliability of the mortality estimates related to children depends on accuracy and
completeness of reporting and recording of births and deaths. Under-reporting and
misclassification are common, especially for deaths occurring in newborns. Countries
should arrange registration and reporting procedures so that the events and the criteria
for their inclusion in the statistics can be easily identified.

With the update of the International form of medical certificate of cause of death in
2016, just one certificate is used for all cases (see Annex 2.23.1). Care needs to be
taken to correctly fill in the specific section for perinatal deaths on the certificate. The
previously recommended perinatal death certificate should be replaced by the form in
Annex 2.23.1, and perinatal deaths should be coded according to the general mortality
coding instructions described above.

Additional information mentioned in Annex 2.23.3 might be helpful for the monitoring of
perinatal and infant deaths of a country or region. However, this information does not
influence the coding result according to ICD-11.

While statistical tabulations include 500 g groupings for birth weight, weights should not
be recorded in those groupings. The actual weight should be recorded to the degree of
accuracy to which it is measured. Age at death during the first day of life (day zero)
should be recorded in units of completed minutes or hours of life. For the second (day
1), third (day 2) and through 27 completed days of life, age at death should be
recorded in days.

[Link] Reporting criteria: Birth weight, gestational age, crown-heel

length
The legal requirements for the registration of foetal deaths and live births vary from
country to country and between countries. If possible, all foetal deaths and live births
weighing at least 500 g at birth, whether alive or dead, should be included in the
statistics. The inclusion of foetal deaths and live births weighing between 500 g and
1000 g as stated in national statistics is recommended both because of its inherent
value and because it improves the coverage of reporting at 1000 g and over.

When information on birth weight is unavailable, the corresponding criteria for

gestational age (22 completed weeks) or body length (25 cm crown-heel) should be
used. The criteria for deciding whether an event has taken place within the perinatal
period should be applied in the order: 1. birth weight, 2. gestational age, 3. crown-heel
length. Where birth weight, gestational age and crown heel length are not known, the
event should be included in, rather than excluded from, mortality statistics of the
perinatal period.

In statistics for international comparison, inclusion of the extremely low birth weight
group disrupts the validity of comparisons and is not recommended. Less mature foetal
deaths and live births not corresponding to the criteria above should be excluded from
perinatal statistics unless there are legal or other valid reasons to the contrary, in which
case their inclusion must be explicitly stated.

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[Link] Statistical presentation of perinatal mortality

For perinatal mortality statistics, full-scale multiple- cause analysis of all conditions
reported will be of the greatest value.

Countries should also present statistics in which both the numerator and the
denominator of all ratios and rates are restricted to fetal deaths and live births weighing
1000 g or more (weight-specific ratios and rates); where information on birth weight is
not available, the corresponding gestational age (28 completed weeks) or body length
(35 cm crown heel) should be used.

In reporting foetal, perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality statistics the number of
deaths due to malformations should whenever possible be identified for foetal deaths
and live births in relation to birth weights of 500 to 999 g and 1000 g or more. Neonatal
deaths due to malformations should be subdivided into early and late neonatal deaths.
This information enables perinatal and neonatal mortality statistics to be reported with
or without the deaths from malformations.

Published ratios and rates should always specify the denominator, i.e. live births or
total births (live births plus foetal deaths). Countries are encouraged to provide the
ratios and rates listed below, or as many of them as their data collection systems
permit. For example:

 Foetal death ratio = (foetal deaths/live births) x 1000

 Foetal death rate = (foetal deaths/total births) x 1000
 Foetal death rate, weight-specific = (foetal death weighting 1000 g and over/total
births weighing 1000 g and over) x 1000
 Early neonatal mortality rate = (early neonatal deaths/live births) x 1000
 Early neonatal mortality rate, weight-specific = (early neonatal deaths of infants
weighing 1000 g and over at birth/live births weighing 1000 g and over) x 1000
 Perinatal mortality ratio = (foetal deaths and early neonatal deaths/live births) x
1000
 Perinatal mortality rate = (foetal deaths and early neonatal deaths/total births) x
1000
 Perinatal mortality rate, weight-specific = (foetal deaths weighing 1000 g and
over + early neonatal deaths of infants weighing 1000 g and over at birth/total
births weighing 1000 g and over) x 1000
 Neonatal mortality rate = (neonatal deaths/live births) x 1000
 Neonatal mortality rate, weight-specific = (neonatal deaths of infants weighing
1000 g and over at birth/live births weighing 1000 g and over) x 1000
 Infant mortality rate = (deaths under one year of age/live births) x 1000
 Infant mortality rate, weight-specific = (infant deaths among live births weighing
1000 g and over at birth/live births weighing 1000 g and over) x 1000

The perinatal mortality rate is the number of deaths of foetuses weighing at least 500 g
(or, when birth weight is unavailable, after 22 completed weeks of gestation or with a
crown-heel length of 25 centimetres or more), plus the number of early neonatal
deaths, per 1000 total births. Because of the different denominators in each
component, this is not necessarily equal to the sum of the foetal death rate and the
early neonatal mortality rate.

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Age classification for special statistics of infant mortality

 By single days for the first week of life (under 24 hours, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 days), 7-
13 days, 14- 20 days, 21-27 days, 28 days and up to 2 months, by single
months of life from 2 months to 1 year (2, 3, 4 … -11 months).
 Under 24 hours, 1-6 days, 7-27 days, 28 days up to, but not including, 3 months,
3-5 months, 6 months but under 1 year.
 Under 7 days, 7-27 days, 28 days but under 1 year.

Age classification for early neonatal deaths:

1. Under 1 hour, 1–11 hours, 12–23 hours, 24–47 hours, 48–71 hours, 72–167
hours
2. Under 1 hour, 1-23 hours, 24-167 hours.

Birth weight classification for perinatal mortality statistics

By weight intervals of 500 grams, i.e. 1000-1499 grams, etc.

Gestational age classification for perinatal mortality statistics

 Under 28 weeks (under 196 days)

 28-31 weeks (196-223 days)
 32-36 weeks (224-258 days)
 37-41 weeks (259-293 days)
 42 weeks and over (294 days and over)

2.28.5 Standards and reporting requirements related for

maternal mortality
Maternal mortality is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that serve to
monitor the impact of the joint work of the international community in this field.

[Link] Maternal death

A maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days
of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from
any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from
unintentional or incidental causes.

[Link] Late Maternal death

A late maternal death is defined as: the death of a woman from direct or indirect
obstetric causes, more than 42 days but less than one year after termination of
pregnancy.

[Link] Comprehensive maternal death

A grouping that combines early maternal death (maternal death) and late maternal
death.

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[Link] Direct and indirect obstetric deaths

Maternal deaths, late maternal deaths, and comprehensive maternal deaths are
subdivided into two groups:

 Direct obstetric deaths: those resulting from obstetric complications of the

pregnant state (pregnancy, labour, and puerperium), and from interventions,
omissions, incorrect treatment, or from a chain of events resulting from any of
the above.
 Indirect obstetric deaths: those resulting from previous existing disease or
disease that developed during pregnancy and not due to direct obstetric causes
but were aggravated by the physiologic effects of pregnancy.

[Link] Death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium

A death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium is defined as: the death
of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective
of the cause of death (obstetric and non-obstetric).

[Link] Recording requirements of maternal mortality

In order to improve the quality of maternal mortality data and provide alternative
methods of collecting data on deaths during pregnancy or anything related to
pregnancy, as well as to encourage the recording of deaths from obstetric causes
occurring more than 42 days following termination of pregnancy, the Forty-third World
Health Assembly in 1990 adopted the recommendation that countries consider
including questions regarding current pregnancy and pregnancy within one year
preceding death on death certificates.

The classification also allows to record deaths that occur one year or more after
termination of the pregnancy (JB62 Death from sequelae of obstetric causes).

[Link] International reporting of maternal mortality

For the purpose of international reporting of maternal mortality, only those maternal
deaths occurring before the end of the 42-day reference period should be included in
the calculation of the various ratios and rates, although the recording of later deaths is
useful for national analytical purposes.

[Link] Numerator, denominator, and ratios of published maternal

mortality
Published maternal mortality rates should always specify the numerator, which can be
given as the number of recorded direct obstetric deaths, or the number of recorded
obstetric deaths (direct plus indirect). Note that cases not coded to Chapter 18 (J
codes) should be included in the numerator. These include those categories presented
in the ‘Exclusion Note’ at the beginning of Chapter 18, provided that they have been
aggravated by pregnancy or conversely aggravated the pregnancy.

The denominator used for calculating maternal mortality should be specified as either
the number of live births or the number of total births (live births plus foetal deaths).
Where both denominators are available, a calculation should be published for each.

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Results should be expressed as a ratio of the numerator over the denominator,

multiplied by k (where k may be 1000, 10,000 or 100,000, as preferred and indicated
by the country). Maternal mortality ratios and rates can thus be expressed as follows:

1. Maternal mortality rate: (Maternal deaths/Live births) x k

2. Direct obstetric mortality ratio: (Direct obstetric death only/Live births) x k
3. Ratio for death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium:
(Pregnancy-related death/Live births) x k

2.28.6 Standards and coding instructions for injury events

The WHO definition of an ‘injury’ is: ‘Injuries are caused by acute exposure to physical
agents such as mechanical energy, heat, electricity, chemicals, and ionizing radiation
interacting with the body in amounts or at rates that exceed the threshold of human
tolerance. In some cases, (for example, drowning and frostbite), injuries result from the
sudden lack of essential agents such as oxygen or heat’. Injuries may be categorised in
a number of ways. However, for most analytical purposes and for identifying
intervention opportunities, it is especially useful to categorise injuries according to
whether or not they were deliberately inflicted and by whom. Commonly used
categories are:

 unintentional (i.e. accidental)

 intentional (i.e. deliberate)
 interpersonal (e.g. assault and homicide)
 self-harm (e.g. abuse of drugs and alcohol, self-mutilation, suicide)
 legal intervention (e.g. action by police or other law enforcement personnel)
 war, civil insurrection and disturbances (e.g. demonstrations and riots)
 undetermined intent

Regarding the collection of events that cause injuries, a set of definitions apply. See
section ‘Definition related to transport injury events’ below.

[Link] Descriptions related to transport injury events

a. A ‘transport injury event’ is any unintentional injury involving a device designed
primarily for, or being used at the time primarily for, conveying persons or goods
from one place to another.
b. A public highway (trafficway) or street is the entire width between property lines
(or other boundary lines). It includes the space of open public land used for
purposes of moving persons or property from one place to another. A roadway is
that part of the public highway designed, improved and customarily used for
vehicular traffic.
c. A road traffic injury event is any unintentional injury occurring on the public
highway [i.e. originating on, terminating on, or involving a vehicle partially on the
highway]. An unintentional injury involving a vehicle is assumed to have
occurred on the public highway unless another place is specified, except in the
case of unintentional injury involving only off-road motor vehicles, which are
classified as unintentional injury not caused by traffic unless the contrary is
stated.
d. An off-road, nontraffic road injury event is any unintentional injury that occurs
entirely in any place other than a public highway.

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e. A pedestrian is any unintentionally injured person involved who was not at the
time of the event riding in or on a motor vehicle, railway train, streetcar or
animal-drawn or other vehicle, or on a pedal cycle or animal.

 Pedestrians include:
o changing tire of vehicle
o making adjustment to motor of vehicle
o on foot Items which assist with pedestrian conveyance, including:
 baby carriage
 ice-skates
 perambulator
 push-chair
 roller-skates
 scooter
 skateboard
 skis
 sled
 wheelchair (powered)
f. A driver is an occupant of a transport vehicle who is operating or intending to
operate it.
g. A passenger is any occupant of a transport vehicle other than the driver.

Excludes: person traveling on outside of vehicle - see definition (h) below

h. A person ‘traveling on’ a transport vehicle includes any person being transported
by a vehicle but not occupying the space normally reserved for the driver or
passengers, or the space intended for the transport of property.
o ‘Traveling on’ includes:
 bodywork
 bumper [fender]
 hanging on outside
 roof (rack)
 running-board
 step
i. A pedal cycle is any land transport vehicle operated solely by pedals.

Includes: bicycle tricycle Excludes: motorised bicycle - see definition (k)

j. A pedal cyclist is any person riding on a pedal cycle or in a sidecar or trailer

attached to such a vehicle.
k. A motorcycle is a two-wheeled motor vehicle with one or two riding saddles and
sometimes with a third wheel for the support of a sidecar. The sidecar is
considered part of the motorcycle.

 Includes:
o moped motor scooter motorcycle:
 NOS
 combination
 with sidecar
 motorised bicycle
 speed-limited motor-driven cycle

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 Excludes: motor-driven tricycle - see definition (m)

l. A motorcycle rider is any person riding on a motorcycle or in a sidecar or trailer

attached to such a vehicle.
m. A three-wheeled motor vehicle is a motorised tricycle designed primarily for on-
road use.
 Includes:
o motor-driven tricycle
o motorised rickshaw
o three-wheeled motor car
 Excludes:
o motorcycle with sidecar - see definition (k)
o special all-terrain vehicle - see definition (x)
n. A car (automobile) is a light transport vehicle with four or more wheels designed
primarily for carrying up to 10 persons. A trailer or caravan being towed by a car
is considered a part of the car.

Includes: minibus

o. A motor vehicle or vehicle may refer to various transport vehicles. The local
usage of the terms should be established to determine the appropriate code. If
the terms are used ambiguously, use the code for ‘unspecified’. A trailer or
caravan being towed by a vehicle is considered a part of the vehicle.
p. A light goods vehicle (pick-up truck or van) is a motor vehicle with four or more
wheels designed primarily for carrying property on roads, weighing less than the
local limit for classification as a heavy goods vehicle (usually less than 3500 kg),
and not requiring a special driver’s licence. A trailer or caravan being towed by a
light goods vehicle is considered a part of the vehicle.
q. A heavy goods vehicle is a motor vehicle designed primarily for carrying
property on roads, meeting local criteria for classification as a heavy goods
vehicle in terms of curbside weight (usually above 3500 kg), and requiring a
special driver’s licence.
r. A bus is a motor vehicle designed or adapted primarily for carrying more than 10
persons and requiring a special driver’s licence to operate.
s. A railway train or railway vehicle is any device, with or without cars coupled to it,
designed for traffic on a railway.

 Includes:
o interurban:
 electric car
 street car (operated chiefly on its own right-of-way, not open to
other traffic) railway train, any power [diesel] [electric] [steam]
 funicular
 monorail or two-rail subterranean or elevated other vehicle
designed to run on a railway track
 Excludes:
o interurban electric cars (streetcars) specified to be operating on a right-of-
way that forms part of the public street or highway - see definition (t)
t. A streetcar is a vehicle designed and used primarily for transporting persons
within a municipality, running on rails, usually subject to normal traffic control
signals, and operated principally on a right-of-way that forms part of the

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roadway. A trailer being towed by a streetcar is considered a part of the

streetcar.
 Includes:
o interurban electric car or streetcar, when specified to be operating on a
street or public highway
o tram (car)
o trolley (car)
u. A special vehicle mainly used on industrial premises is a motor vehicle designed
primarily for use within the buildings and premises of industrial or commercial
establishments.
 Includes:
o battery-powered:
 airport passenger vehicle
 truck (baggage)(mail)
 coal-car in mine
 forklift (truck)
 logging car
 self-propelled truck, industrial
 station baggage truck (powered)
 tram, truck or tub (powered) in mine or quarry
v. A special vehicle mainly used in agriculture is a motor vehicle designed
specifically for use in farming and agriculture (horticulture), for example to work
the land, tend and harvest crops and transport materials on the farm.
 Includes:
o combine harvester
o self-propelled farm machinery
o tractor (and trailer)
w. A special construction vehicle is a motor vehicle designed specifically for use in
the construction (and demolition) of roads, buildings and other structures.
 Includes:
o bulldozer
o digger
o dumper truck
o earth-leveller
o mechanical shovel
o road-roller
x. A special all-terrain vehicle is a motor vehicle of special design to enable it to
negotiate rough or soft terrain or snow. Examples of special design are high
construction, special wheels and tyres, tracks, and support on a cushion of air.
 Includes: - hovercraft on land or swamp - snowmobile
 Excludes: hovercraft on open water - see definition (y)

y. A watercraft is any device for transporting passengers or goods on water.

Includes: hovercraft NOS

z. An aircraft is any device for transporting passengers or goods in the air.

[Link] Classification and coding instructions for unintentional injury

caused by transport
Transport injury events are counted for official statistics where they are unintentional.

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1. If an event is unspecified as to whether it was a traffic or a nontraffice-injury

event, the following classifications will help to decipher:
a. Classify as a traffic injury event occurs when the event is classifiable to
the traffic categories.
b. Classify as a nontraffic injury event occurs when the event is classifiable
to nontraffic categories.

For these categories the victim is either a pedestrian, or an occupant of a

vehicle designed primarily for off-road use.

2. When unintentional injury involving more than one kind of transport are reported,
the following order of precedence should be used:
o aircraft and spacecraft
o watercraft
o other modes of transport
3. Where transport injury event descriptions do not specify the victim as being a
vehicle occupant and the victim is described as crushed, dragged, hit, injured,
killed, knocked down, run over by any vehicle including:
o animal being ridden
o animal-drawn vehicle
o bicycle
o bulldozer
o bus
o car
o motorcycle
o motorised tricycle
o pick-up (truck)
o recreational vehicle
o streetcar
o tractor
o train
o tram
o truck
o van
Classify the victim as a pedestrian.

4. Where transport injury event descriptions do not indicate the victim’s role,
classify the victim as an occupant or rider of the vehicle if there is mention of
vehicles such as:
o airplane
o bicycle
o boat
o bulldozer
o bus
o car
o motorcycle
o motorised tricycle
o pick-up (truck)
o recreational vehicle
o spacecraft
o tractor

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o train
o tram
o truck
o van
o watercraft
o accident
o collision
o crash
o wreck
o NOS
Classify the victim as an occupant or rider of the vehicle mentioned. If more than one
vehicle is mentioned, do not make any assumption as to which vehicle was occupied
by the victim unless the vehicles are the same. Instead, code to the appropriate
categories, taking into account the order of precedence given in note 2 above.

5. Where a transport injury event, such as:

 vehicle (motor) (non-motor): – going out of control (due to):
 burst tyre (blowout)
 driver falling asleep
 driver inattention
 excessive speed
 failure of mechanical part resulted in a subsequent collision

Classify the unintentional injury as a collision. If an unintentional injury other than a

collision resulted, classify it as a noncollision injury according to the vehicle type
involved.

6. Where an unintentional injury involving a vehicle in motion,

such as:
 unintentional poisoning from exhaust gas generated by
 breakage of any part of
 explosion of any part of
 fall, jump or being unintentionally pushed from
 fire starting in
 hit by object thrown into or onto
 injured by being thrown against some part of, or object in
 injury from moving part of
 object falling in or on
 vehicle in motion
 resulted in a subsequent collision

Classify as a collision.

If an accident other than a collision resulted, classify it as a noncollision injury

according to the vehicle type involved.

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Unintentional injury due to land transport described as:

 collision (due to loss of control) (on highway) between vehicle and:

 abutment (bridge)(overpass)
 fallen stone
 guard rail or boundary fence
 inter-highway divider
 landslide (not moving)
 object thrown in front of motor vehicle
 safety island
 tree
 traffic sign or marker (temporary)
 utility pole
 wall of cut made for road
 other object, fixed, movable or moving
 overturning (without collision)
 collision with animal (herded)(unattended)
 collision with animal-drawn vehicle or animal being ridden are included.

2.29 ICD maintenance and application

The ICD maintenance process allows the continuous adaptation of the ICD following
the evolution in the understanding of diseases, treatments, and prevention. A proposal
and review mechanism on an online platform makes the process transparent.
Workflows ensure that proposed changes are considered both from a medical and
scientific perspective and from their value and place in a particular use case. As a
result, the Foundation Component and the related tabular list(s) will be released in
updated versions.

2.29.1 Proposals and Review Mechanisms and workflow

Any individual can submit a proposal for an update to the ICD. Such updates can refer
to one or more entities of the ICD. They may address the position of entities in a
tabular list, in the foundation, and any element of the content model. Suggestions shall
be provided in the format of a short (approximately 500-word) explanation with
references to underpinning literature and evidence. The proposal shall also visualise
the changes in the position and address potential impact on entities outside the
proposal.

The proposals will be reviewed by scientific experts and classification experts. Decision
on taking into account a particular proposal will be based on the recommendations by
these experts. A workflow between a mortality and a morbidity reference group, a
medical scientific advisory group and a classification and statistics advisory group will
ensure that all aspect concerning a proposal are taken into account. Reviews of the
synthesis by classification experts ensure suitability of the proposed changes to the
diverse use cases of the ICD. The process has two rounds of mutual editing between
content and classification experts to achieve consensus about a proposed change. All
rounds of editing will be handled through electronic platforms. Where consensus
cannot be achieved, the proposal can either be deferred to subsequent cycles of
editing pending arbitration by the WHO or be solved in a face to face meeting of

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classification and content experts. In all other cases, a consensus recommendation is

given to the WHO for final decision.

2.29.2 Official releases

The ICD-11 will be released in five-yearly ‘stable’ versions for international use
(updates that impact on the four and five digit structure), unless urgent public health
needs require otherwise. The releases are supplemented with version identifiers that
are used for reporting in conjunction with the codes. Transition tables and materials
showing the differences are provided with every version. Updates at a more detailed
level than four and five digits can be published at annual rates. Additions to the index
can be done on an ongoing basis. Mortality and morbidity rules will be updated in long
term cycle.

All countries that have implemented the ICD-11 are encouraged to adopt the updates
in order to ensure greatest possible standardisation of coding results. If a country for
whatever reason cannot implement a certain year of updates it shall ensure that at
least the reported data is in line with the most recent version of ICD-11. Small error
corrections that serve to clarify meaning, indexing or errors, may be communicated at a
yearly rate.

The WHO has taken all reasonable precautions to verify the information contained in
the ICD and its different versions and editions. However, the ICD is being distributed
without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the
interpretation and use of ICD lies with the user. In no event shall the WHO be liable for
damages arising from its use. The publisher of ICD-coded information is liable to
ensure proper use of the ICD and present clearly the methodology for data collection
and mechanisms that were used to modify the original data in order to indicate the
comparability of the presented outcomes. For mortality data, no deviation from the
methodology indicated in the ICD is permitted.

2.29.3 Update platform

All proposals are entered on an online update platform, for verification of
completeness, discussion and editing. The platform provides the infrastructure for
routing proposals to reviewers and experts, and for providing feedback to the original
authors. The update platform also shows the final outcome of the proposal that has
been entered in the authoring platform and become part of the ICD.

2.30 Mortality Rules – Knowledgebase

The Mortality Knowledge Database will be a collection of rules that are used for
determining the underlying Cause of Death from the death certificates. These rules will
be based upon the Mortality coding guidelines of the ICD. The rules will cover
permitted sequences, such as disease ‘a’ due to disease ‘b’, and cases where the
selected cause may be modified to provide more relevant information for public health.
Short summaries will describe the scope of a rule, and decision tables will specify
explicitly and independent of language the use of the rule with the codes of the
mortality tabular list. ‘Code sets’ of the decision tables will group ICD codes that often
occur together in the knowledge base or are handled similarly by the selection and
modification rules; for example as causes or consequences of diseases with some

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common characteristic. The information on the rules will be maintained in a database,

so that the data in the rules code table can be easily validated against changes in the
classification, and vice versa.

The decision tables can be used for manual coding and selection of the underlying
cause of death, or for programming of software that assists in this task. In the past
such Rule bases have been developed by users of ICD-10 mortality coding in an
international approach, relying for decision to change relationship in the tables on
decisions of internationally accredited by WHO.

2.31 Automated coding tools for mortality

Automated coding tools for mortality are interactive computer-based systems for coding
multiple causes of death and for selecting the underlying cause of death. Systems
require a dictionary that matches the language that is used for reporting causes of
death. Use of the software requires training. Specialist coders need to assist in cases
that cannot be coded by the software. This is the case in 10-20% of cases, depending
on language and dictionary. Iris is the only internationally maintained automated coding
software. Besides this there are several other national systems in place.

2.32 List of rehabilitation-relevant health

conditions for which a tailored set of
functioning properties is available
 Acute myocardial infarction BA41
 Alzheimer and other dementias 6D85
 Amputation (traumatic amputations involving multiple body regions) ND35
 Amyotrophic diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) 8B60.0
 Ankylosing spondylitis and other spondylopathies FA92.0
 Asthma CA23
 Benign prostatic hypertrophy GA90
 Bipolar affective disorder 6A60.9
 Birth asphyxia and birth trauma KB21.Y KA4Z
 Bladder cancer 2C94
 Brain injury (traumatic brain injury or acquired brain injury) NA07
 Breast cancer 2C6Z
 Cerebral palsy 8D2Z
 Cerebrovascular disease incl. stroke 8B2Z
 Cervix uteri cancer 2C77
 Chagas disease 1F53
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CA22
 Cleft lip LA40
 Cleft palate LA42
 Colon and rectum cancers 2B92
 Complex regional pain syndrome 8D8A.0
 Congenital heart anomalies LA8Z
 Corpus uteri cancer 2C76
 Depression 6A7Z

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 Diabetes mellitus 5A14

 Down syndrome LD40.0
 Drug use disorders 6C4Z
 Endocrine disorders 5B3Z
 Epilepsy 8A6Z
 Fracture of femur NC72
 Fracture of lower leg, including ankle NC92
 Fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis NB52
 Gout FA25
 Haemophilia 3B10
 Hand conditions
 Hearing loss, adult onset AB54
 Heart failure BD1Z
 HIV/AIDS 1C62
 Hypertensive heart disease BA01
 Impingement syndrome FB53.1
 Inflammatory Bowel Disease DD7Z
 Ischaemic heart diseases BA6Z
 Japanese Encephalitis 1C85
 Leishmaniasis 1F54
 Leprosy and sequelae of leprosy 1B20
 Leukaemia 2B33.Y
 Liver cancer 2C12
 Low back pain (dorsalgia) ME84.2
 Low birth weight KA21
 Lower limbs fractures ND54
 Lower respiratory infections CA2Z
 Lymphatic filariasis 1F66.3
 Lymphomas and multiple myeloma 2B33.5
 Macular degeneration and other sense disorders 9B75
 Malaria 1F40-1F4Z
 Melanoma and other skin cancers 2C30.Z 2C3Y
 Meningitis 1D01
 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 6C40
 Mild mental retardation attributable to lead exposure (unspecified mental
retardation) 6A00.0
 Mouth and oropharynx cancers 2B6Z
 Movement disorders (e.g. ataxia, , hemiplegia, dysdiadochokinesia) 8A0Z
 Multiple sclerosis 8A40
 Muscle dystrophy 8C70
 Musculoskeletal pain syndrome (fibromyalgia, entrapment/ mononeuropathies)
MG30.01
 Myopathies 8C7Z
 Nephritis and nephrosis GB41
 Neuropathies 8C4Z
 Obesity 5B81
 Oesophageal atresia LB12.1
 Oesophagus cancer 2B70
 Onchocerciasis 1F6A
 Osteoarthritis FA0Z
 Osteoporosis FB83.1

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 Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified

 Other neurotic conditions
 Ovary cancer 2C73
 Pancreas cancer 2C10
 Parkinson disease 8A00.0
 Poliomyelitis and sequelae of poliomyelitis 1C81
 Post-traumatic stress disorder 6B40
 Prostate cancer 2C82
 Protein-energy malnutrition 5B51
 Pulmonary hypertension BB01
 Renal failure GB6Z
 Rheumatic heart disease BC20.1
 Rheumatoid arthritis FA20
 Schizophrenia 6A20
 Scleroderma, dermatomyositis 4A41.0
 Skin diseases e.g. psoriasis, decubitus ulcer and pressure area, other disorders
of skin & subcutaneous tissue not elsewhere classified [14]
 Sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, insomnia, circadian
rhythm sleep-wake disorder, restless legs) [07]
 Spina bifida LA02
 Spinal cord injury ND51
 Stomach cancer 2B72
 Syphilis 1A6Z
 Tetanus 1C13
 Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers 2C25
 Tuberculosis and sequelae of tuberculosis 1B1Z
 Upper limbs fractures ND52
 Vertebral fractures ND50
 Vertigo MB48.0

2.33 Chapter Structure of the ICD-11 MMS

The international core reference linearisation is the ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity
Statistics (ICD-11MMS). It is used for coding and reporting illnesses or causes of death
for international comparison. The naming of this linearisation highlights its two main
use cases. This core linearisation is divided into 28 chapters, of which 25 refer to
health conditions similar to past ICD versions, while one serves to identify external
causes of morbidity and mortality, and another includes concepts of traditional
medicine. Lastly, there are two additional sections for optional additional use, one for
extension codes to add more detail for different dimensions of a disease, such as
anatomy, mark a condition to be present on admission, or a disease having been
relevant in the family history (see Section 2.33.27 Section X - Extension Codes) and
the other for functioning assessment to provide a set of codes for assessment and
scoring in the ICD using ICF functioning domains of high explanatory power (see
Section [Link] Section V – Supplementary section for functioning assessment).
ICD–11 has five new chapters. As a result, the numbering of the chapters has
changed. The new chapters are:

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 Chapter 03 Diseases of the blood or blood-forming organs and Chapter 04 –

Disorders of the immune system. Conditions affecting the immune system and
conditions affecting the blood are now in two separate chapters.
 Chapter 07 Sleep-Wake disorders. Sleep wake disorders have been regrouped
in this new chapter.
 Chapter 17 Conditions related to sexual health. Sexual conditions have been
grouped in this new chapter.
 Chapter 27 Traditional Medicine. A chapter for traditional medicine has been
added.
 The following is an overview of the organisational principles and classification
struture (hierarchy) for each of the 26 chapters. The structure and new sets of
functionalities in ICD-11 were a result of incorporating scientific updates and
making the classifications more relevant for computerisation.
 2.33.1 Chapter 01 – Certain infectious or parasitic
diseases
 Structure of Chapter 01
 [Link] Chapter 01 – Structure of chapter 01
 Chapter 01 is divided into two major sections:
 The chapter lists the infectious diseases in the structure grouping by some
clinical syndromes, then mode of transmission, followed by groups by agents.
Some conditions of major public health concern are listed at the same level.
Variants to the conditions in the chapter that occasionally spread as localised
infections are primarily coded to this chapter. Infections that are localised, and
where the agent usually is unknown, not relevant, or there is a mixed aetiology
reside in the organ chapters. Frequent infectious agents may be listed as
individual child categories under the localised infection. In some instances,
infections could equally be located in the infectious disease chapter and in an
organ system chapter. In such cases, the decision that creates least change
(ICD-10 legacy) has been chosen. Also, the fact that some detail may not
usually be reported and that requires a broader ‘unspecified’ may be a reason to
group some conditions that would be expected to be coded elsewhere, as is the
case for meningitis and encephalitis and respiratory infections.
 A special tabulation list groups the infections by agents and is intended for
special tabulation, only.
 [Link] Chapter 01 – Rationale for chapter 01
 The purpose of the structure of chapter 01 is to minimise the impact on
longitudinal statistics of major infections, to allow reporting of main infection
syndromes without mention of a specific agent, while allowing for special
tabulation by infectious agent using the information in segment 2. Influenza,
though visibly affecting the respiratory tract, affects multiple parts of the body
and is also of important public health concern. For that reason, it has been
moved into the infectious chapter. Prion diseases can be transmissible, genetic
or arise spontaneously. They are rare conditions that only affect the nervous
system. Many are inherited. The presence of a specific gene is a prerequisite to
developing a prion disease. In view of these facts, it was decided to keep the
prion diseases grouped together and move the whole group to the neurology
chapter.

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 [Link] Antimicrobial resistance

 The ICD parts relating to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) have been designed
to support the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. Priority
pathogens are identified in combinations with currently (2016) relevant
antimicrobial substances. The section is designed to allow postcoordination of
other substance and agent combinations in a cluster. The section on AMR is
located in the Chapter 21 ‘Symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not elsewhere
classified’, so that the underlying disease or agent is always coded in
conjunction with the AMR category. ICD and the surveillance system focus on
specific tracer pathogen-substance combinations. However, ICD design allows
one to code the full antibiotic susceptibility pattern if desired. For tabulation, the
AMR codes should be reported in combination with the infectious disease.
Where only one condition can be reported, the infectious disease should be
retained. However, at national level, the set of infectious diseases and the
number of AMR cases among the infections cases should be tabulated.

2.33.2 Chapter 02 – Neoplasms

[Link] Chapter 02 – Structure of chapter 02
The general hierarchy of Chapter 02 consists of the following:

1st level - Behaviour

2nd level - Broad sites or systems
3rd level - Specific site
4th level - Morphological (histology) type
There are three groups that are an exception to the above hierarchy. They are:

1. Neoplasms of brain and central nervous system

1st level - Broad sites

2nd level - Behaviour - morphological (histology) type

2. Neoplasms of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues

1st level - Broad morphological (histology) type

2nd level - Specific morphological (histology) type

3. Malignant mesenchymal neoplasms

1st level - Specific morphological (histology) type

2nd level - Site

[Link] Chapter 02 - Rationale for Chapter 02

The progress in oncology has clearly demonstrated that a site-only based
categorisation of malignant and benign tumours provides limited information for
prevention, treatment, and prognosis for persons that are affected by a tumour. ICD–10
had already included some categories based on histopathology (e.g. some lymphoid
neoplasms).

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In ICD–11, main tumour sites have subdivisions of histopathology first. The groups
chosen were based on an analysis of international mortality and morbidity reporting,
cancer registries, and clinical reporting. The redesigned sections were reviewed for
missing details in relation to the ICD use cases.

Keeping the main anatomical axes intact allows backwards compatibility. However, the
structure was adjusted in a few places to match anatomical subdivisions of the TNM
classification ([Link]

For tumours of the central nervous system, the histological and behavioural distinction
between benign and malignant is a grey area. As such, it was decided to move all
central nervous system tumours outside the basic framework of behaviour and group
them together.

The field of genetic markers is rapidly changing. Whereas for some tumours, such
markers have been used for many years, for others, this is not the case. As such, with
the exception of haematological tumours, genetic markers were not included, and have
not been used for the classification. They are, however, included in section ‘Extension
codes’, and can be added as postcoordination to the relevant code from the neoplasms
chapter to fully describe the relevant tumour entity.

2.33.3 Chapter 03 – Diseases of the blood or blood-forming

organs
[Link] Chapter 03 – Structure of chapter 03
This new chapter (previously part of Chapter III in ICD-10) has three main sections:

- Anaemias or other erythrocyte disorders

- Coagulation defects, purpura or other haemorrhagic or related conditions
- Diseases of spleen
Neoplasms of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues are primarily located in Chapter 02
(Neoplasms) while Symptoms, signs or clinical findings of blood or blood-forming
organs or the immune system are primarily located in Chapter 21.

The first two major sections comprise of the following hierarchy:

1st level - Anaemias and coagulation disorders

2nd level - Broad category of disease/disorder type
3rd level - Congenital vs acquired
4th level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
The third major section comprises of the following hierarchy:

1st level - Diseases of spleen

2nd level - Congenital vs acquired
3rd level - Specific disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 03 – Rationale for chapter 03
For Chapter 03, there has been a reorganisation of the chapter into a clinical view of
diseases of the blood, an aetiological view of diseases of the blood and diseases of the
spleen. Anaemias are now all under one group with a separate group for ‘Coagulation
defects, purpura or other haemorrhagic correlated conditions’.

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2.33.4 Chapter 04 – Diseases of the immune system

[Link] Chapter 04 – Structure of chapter 04
This new chapter (previously part of Chapter III in ICD-10) has the following sections:

Immunodeficiencies

Non-organic specific systemic disorders

1st level - Being the main groupings above

2nd level - Broad category of disease/disorder type
3rd level - Specific disease/disorder type
4th level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type

1st level - Autoinflammatory disorders

2nd level - Specific syndrome

1st level - Allergic or hypersensitivity conditions

2nd level - Broad category for body systems

1st level - Certain diseases involving the immune system

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type

Diseases of thymus
2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type

[Link] Chapter 04 – Rationale for chapter 04

For Chapter 04, there are new sections for immune disorders that differ from the
section previously located in Chapter III of ICD–10. For the immune system they are
classified mainly by clinical syndrome, and in an alternate view the immune system
conditions are shown by cell line. A section for Allergic or hypersensitivity conditions
has been included in this chapter. Overall, more detail has been added to the chapter.

2.33.5 Chapter 05 – Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic

diseases
[Link] Chapter 05 – Structure of Chapter 05
Chapter 05 has four major sections:

1. Endocrine diseases

2nd level - Specific gland or hormone system

3rd level - Specific diseases/disorder

2. Nutritional disorders

2nd level - Broad categories of diseases/disorder

3rd level - Specific disease/disorder

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3. Metabolic disorders

2nd level – Broad categories of diseases/disorder

3rd level - Specific disease/disorder

4. Postprocedural endocrine or metabolic disorders

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder

Neoplasms of the endocrine system are primarily located in Chapter 02 Neoplasms

and Symptoms, Symptoms, signs or clinical findings of endocrine, nutritional or
metabolic diseases are primarily located in Chapter 21.

[Link] Chapter 05 – Rationale for Chapter 05

There is increased international standardisation of endocrine disease terminology
being used to describe the complex nature of endocrine conditions. The intent is to
include all dysfunctions that lead to a specific endocrine disorder.

Diabetes mellitus and Intermediate hyperglycaemia has been expanded to reflect

current international terminology. The complications often associated with diabetes
have continued to be included in the classification in the appropriate body system
chapter in line with the various clinical modifications. ‘Code also’ and ‘Use additional
code’ notes have been included to link the types of diabetes and the various
complications to enable the addition of codes for further specificity.

Sources of change for this section were based on the current WHO Classification of
Diabetes Mellitus and Intermediate Hyperglycaemia 2011 and the Department of
Chronic Diseases, Health Promotion, WHO.

The WHO Department of Nutrition for Health and Development proposed changes to
the section on Nutritional Disorders with advice from the Nutrition Guidance Expert
Advisory Group (NUGAG) for updates to this section of the classification. Metabolic
disorders are now aetiologically based and have been classified into three distinct
areas; ‘Inborn errors of metabolism’, ‘Disorders of metabolite absorption and transport’
and ‘Disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance’ following clinical advice
received from the relevant international societies for metabolic diseases.

2.33.6 Chapter 06 – Mental, behavioural or

neurodevelopmental disorders
[Link] Chapter 06 – Structure of Chapter 06
The hierarchy of Chapter 06 consists of:

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type

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[Link] Chapter 06 – Rationale for Chapter 06

The overall linear structure of the proposed Mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental
disorders chapter for ICD–11 has been a topic of substantive and comprehensive
discussions by the Topic Disorders Advisory Group for Mental Health, as well as
extensive interactions with the American Psychiatric Association in relation to the just-
published Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) (1), from the time of the Advisory Group’s initial appointment in 2007.

The appropriate architecture of a diagnostic classification of mental and behavioural

disorders is an issue that has received substantial attention over the course of the
revision (e.g. 2-4). One of the guiding principles of the ICD–11 is that it should reflect
current scientific evidence regarding the relationships among disorders (5) rather than
antiquated concepts such as ‘neurosis’, which have poor construct and predictive
validity. In addition, a major goal of the WHO Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse for the current revision is to improve the clinical utility of this part of
the ICD–11 (6, 7). Because the ICD–11 uses a different coding structure that is not
based on a decimal numbering system, such that a larger number of blocks or
groupings can be accommodated within the chapter, an important opportunity was
presented to bring the classification more in line with current research and clinical
practice in terms of how groupings of disorders are represented.

Three streams of work provide the rationale and evidence for the linear structure of
Mental and Behavioural Disorders in the ICD–11.

Evidence Reviews by Working Groups for ICD–11 Mental, behavioural or

neurodevelopmental disorders

The first stream of work relates to the outcome of evidence reviews by the 14 Working
Groups reporting to the Advisory Group, each of which had multiple face-to-face
meetings over at least a 2-year period. The Working Groups were asked to review the
available scientific evidence and other information about clinical application of
classifications in various settings throughout the world, and to provide evidence and a
rationale for its groupings as well as the content and arrangement of categories within
them. This work resulted in manuscripts describing the rationale for most groupings of
disorders that have been published in or submitted to peer- reviewed journals (e.g. 8-
15). Space does not permit detailing the rationale and evidence base for each
structural change here, but this information as it relates to any specific decision can be
provided on request based on the material generated by the Working Groups.

Formative Field Studies on Clinical Utility of the Linear Structure

The second stream of work relevant to the linear structure of Mental and Behavioural
Disorders focused on clinical utility and is represented by two formative field studies
undertaken by the WHO and the Field Studies Coordination Group reporting to the
Advisory Group (16, 17). The purpose of these studies was to examine the
conceptualizations held by mental health professionals around the world of the
relationships among mental disorders in order to inform decisions about the structure of
the classification. From a clinical utility perspective, particularly in terms of improving
the interface between health information and clinical practice, the most important and

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desirable features of a classification’s organisation is that (a) it helps clinicians find the
categories that most accurately describe the patients they encounter as quickly, easily,
and intuitively as possible and (b) the diagnostic categories so obtained would provide
them with clinically useful information about treatment and management. A mental
disorders classification that is difficult and cumbersome to implement in clinical practice
and does not provide information that is of immediate value to the clinician has no hope
of being implemented accurately at the encounter level in real-word health care
settings. In that event, clinical practice will not be guided by the standardisation and
operationalization of concepts and categories that are inherent in the classification, and
important opportunities for practice improvement and outcomes assessment will be
lost. In turn, a diagnostic system that is characterized by poor clinical utility at the
encounter level cannot generate data based on those encounters that will be a valid
basis for health programs and policies, or for global health statistics. The rationale
behind these two studies was that if the ways in which clinicians conceptualized the
organisation of mental disorders as encountered in their day-to-day clinical practice
was found to be (a) consistent across countries, languages, and disciplines, and (b)
distinct from the organisation of ICD–10, then this information could be used to create a
classification of mental disorders that corresponds more closely to clinicians’ cognitive
organisation of categories and would therefore be more intuitive and efficient for use in
real- world health care settings.

The first formative field study (17) was an internet-based study administered in both
English and Spanish, in which 1,371 psychiatrists and psychologists from 64 countries
participated. The second formative field study (16) involved the face-to-face
administration of a standardised sorting and hierarchy-formation task to 517 mental
health professionals in eight countries and five languages. Both studies found that
clinicians’ conceptual map of mental disorders was rational and highly stable across
profession, language, and country income level. Moreover, both studies found that the
proposed structure for mental and behavioural disorders in ICD–11 was more
consistent with clinicians’ conceptual models than the structure of either ICD–10 or
DSM- IV. The second study also clearly demonstrated that clinicians preferred a ‘flatter’
structure with a larger number of groupings as compared with a more hierarchical
structure with fewer groupings as found in ICD–10.

Harmonisation with DSM-5

The third stream of work relates to efforts to harmonise the structure of the ICD–11
chapter on Mental and Behavioural Disorders with the structure of the DSM-5, where
possible. Overall, the high degree of similarity between the overall structure of DSM-5
(1) and the proposed linear structure for ICD–11 Mental and Behavioural Disorders
represents a major success of the ICD – DSM harmonisation effort. Relatively minor
differences relate primarily to:

1. proposals to combine the classifications of ‘organic’ and ‘non-organic’ aspects of

conditions such as sleep disorders and sexual dysfunctions in ICD–11 in
separate chapters in ways that are more consistent with current evidence and
clinical practice, which was not an option for DSM-5 given that it is by definition
a classification of mental disorders; and
2. differences in conventions related to residual categories and mental disorders
associated with other underlying disease under ICD–11 from decisions about
the organisation of such categories in DSM-5. Additional information about the

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rationale for the few remaining substantive differences in overall structure

between the two classifications is available upon request. It must be
emphasized that the resulting similarity in organisation between the two systems
is the product of several years of complex negotiations. Given that DSM-5 has
already been published, further changes to the ICD–11 structure would almost
certainly move ICD–11 in the direction of reduced similarity and harmonisation
with DSM-5.
References

1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of

mental disorder, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
Publishing.
2. Andrews, G., Goldberg, D. P., Krueger, R. F., Carpenter, W. T. Jr., Hyman, S.
E., Sachdev, P., & Pine, D. S. (2009). Exploring the feasibility of a meta-
structure for DSM-V and ICD-11: Could it improve utility and validity?
Psychological Medicine, 39, 1993–2000.
3. Jablensky, A. (2009). A meta-commentary on the proposal for a meta-structure
for DSM-V and ICD-11. Psychological Medicine, 39, 2099–2103.
4. Wittchen, H.-U., Beesdo, K., & Gloster, A. T. (2009). A new meta-structure of
mental disorders: A helpful step into the future or a harmful step back to the
past? Psychological Medicine, 39, 2083–2089.
5. Hyman, S. E. (2010). The diagnosis of mental disorders: The problem of
reification. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6, 155–179.
6. Reed, G.M. (2010). Toward ICD-11: Improving the clinical utility of WHO’s
international classification of mental disorders. Professional Psychology:
Research and Practice, 41, 457–464.
7. International Advisory Group for the Revision of ICD-10 Mental and Behavioural
Disorders. (2011). A conceptual framework for the revision of the ICD-10
classification of mental and behavioural disorders. World Psychiatry, 10, 86–92.
8. Al-Adawi, S., Baks, B., Bryant-Waugh, R., Claudino, A.M., Hay, P., Monteleone,
P., et al. (2013). Revision of ICD- status update on feeding and eating disorders.
Advances in Eating Disorders, 1, 10-20.
9. Creed, F., & Gureje, O. (2012). Emerging themes in the revision of the
classification of somatoform disorders. International Review of Psychiatry, 24,
556-567.
10. Drescher, J., Cohen-Kettenis, P., & Winter, S. (2012). Minding the body:
Situating gender identity diagnoses in the ICD-11. International Review of
Psychiatry, 24, 568-577.
11. Gaebel, W. (2012). The status of psychotic disorders in ICD-11. Schizophrenia
Bulletin, 38, 895-898.
12. Maercker, A., Brewin, C.R., Bryant, R.A., Cloitre, M., van Ommeren, M., Jones,
L.M., et al. (2013). Diagnosis off classification of disorders specifically
associated with stress: Proposals for ICD-11. World Psychiatry, 12, 198-206.
13. Maj M., & Reed, G.M. (Eds.) (2012). The ICD-11 classification of mood and
anxiety disorders: background and options. World Psychiatry, 11(Suppl. 1).
14. Poznyak, V., Reed, G.M., & Clark, N. (2011). Applying an international public
health perspective to proposed changes for DSM-5. Addiction, 106, 868-870.
15. Rutter, M.C. (2011). Research review: Child psychiatric diagnosis and
classification: concepts, findings, challenges and potential. Journal of Child
Psychology and Psychiatry, 52, 647-660.

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16. Reed, G.M., Roberts, M.C., Keeley, J., Hooppell, C., Matsumoto, C., Sharan, P.,
et al. (2013). Mental health professionals’ natural taxonomies of mental
disorders: Implications for the clinical utility of the ICD-11 and the DSM-5.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69, 1191-1212.
17. Roberts, M.C., Reed, G.M., Medina-Mora, M.E., Keeley, J.W., Sharan, P.,
Johnson, D.K., et al. (2012). A global clinicians’ map of mental disorders to
improve ICD-11: Analysing meta-structure to enhance clinical utility.
International Review of Psychiatry, 24, 578-590.

2.33.7 Chapter 07 – Sleep–wake disorders

[Link] Chapter 07 – Structure of Chapter 07
Chapter 07 is a new chapter in ICD–11. It contains Sleep-wake disorders that were
previously located within the respiratory, neurology, or mental health chapters. By
combining these disorders into one chapter, more detail can be included for many of
the sleep related disorders. The hierarchy consists of:

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type

[Link] Chapter 07 – Rationale for Chapter 07

As Sleep-wake disorders pertain to an area of overlap between mental health,
neurological disorders and pulmonary conditions, the decision was made to place them
together in one chapter.

2.33.8 Chapter 08 – Diseases of the nervous system

[Link] Chapter 08 – Structure of Chapter 08
1st level - Mixture of diseases, disorders and sites and combinations of both.
2nd level - Subcategory mixture of specific disease or disorder type and sometimes site.
[Link] Chapter 08 – Rationale for Chapter 08
ICD–11 sees a major overhaul in the organisation of the blocks which make up the
neurology chapter. The restrictive decimal coding system of the ICD–10, with its
capacity to contain only 11 blocks of disorders per chapter, resulted in blocks
containing miscellaneous neurological entities which did not logically fit together, such
as the episodic and paroxysmal disorders block, containing headache disorders,
epilepsy, transient ischaemic attacks and sleep disorders. The ICD–11 now positions
headache disorders, epilepsy and cerebrovascular disorders at a block level, and sleep
disorders at chapter level (Chapter 07).

Not only has the structure of the neurological chapter changed, but the approach to
classification also integrates current clinical practice and advancements in the
understanding of neurological diseases. In the time since the ICD–10 was published,
enormous progress in the fields of genetics, molecular biology and medical
technologies have been made. An increase in the number of codes is inevitable when
one reflects on the recent knowledge gain in neurology, so a balance between
comprehensiveness, clinical utility and maintaining a public health approach is the aim.
The working groups tackled this issue by considering the more common disorders to
appear in the chapter, with less common aetiological variations of these disorders
being subject to a ‘double coding’ technique. One major change which illustrates the
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advancement of knowledge is the addition of a block entitled ‘Paraneoplastic and

autoimmune disorders of the nervous system’. This block contains immune-mediated
neurological diseases, a field in which knowledge has exploded in recent years. A
second example of how the new version reflects molecular biological advancement is
through awarding Prion diseases block status despite their rarity. Previously, they
featured as part of the infections of the central nervous system block, but research
interest after the major public health issue in Europe in the 1990s has led to new
variants of prion diseases being discovered.

The world has seen a large rise in the elderly population since the 1990s.
Neurocognitive disorders have been declared as a major public health concern and
research into its aetiology and neuropharmacology has boomed. The ICD–11 block on
Neurocognitive disorders reflects the better understanding in this area.

One final particularly noteworthy change can be found in the ‘Other disorders of the
nervous system’ block. This block is employed to capture the ‘spill over’ from other
neurology blocks and those disorders which are deemed unclassifiable elsewhere. In
the ICD–10, due to the aforementioned decimal coding system, this block was an
incongruent collection of diseases. This block has now reduced significantly in size due
to the new, streamlined neurology chapter structure which includes new blocks of
disorders previously contained in the ‘other disorders of the nervous system’ section of
ICD–10. These include ‘disorders of consciousness’, ‘disorders of cerebrospinal fluid
pressure and flow’, ‘disorders of the autonomic nervous system’, ‘nutritional and toxic
disorders of the nervous system’ and ‘spinal cord disorders excluding trauma’. Their
promotion to block status will hopefully have a positive effect on coding practices.

One complicating issue facing the Neurology Topic Advisory has been the need to
cross-link disorders which have a neurological presentation or phenotype to their
aetiological roots within other chapters or blocks within the neurology chapter. One of
the countless examples of this kind of relationship would be mitochondrial disorders of
neuromuscular junction. They must be cross-linked both in the neurology chapter, and
in the Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases chapter.

2.33.9 Chapter 09 – Diseases of the visual system

[Link] Chapter 09 – Structure of Chapter 09
The general hierarchy of Chapter 09 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific anatomy category
3rd level - Broad category of disease/disorder type
4th level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
2.33.10 Chapter 10 - Diseases of the ear or mastoid process
[Link] Chapter 10 – Structure of Chapter 10
The general hierarchy of Chapter 10 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type

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2.33.11 Chapter 11 – Diseases of the circulatory system

[Link] Chapter 11 – Structure of Chapter 11
There are two main hierarchies in Chapter 11.

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
OR

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific anatomy type
3rd level - Specific disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 11 – Rationale for Chapter 11
There have been large scale changes in clinical practice in cardiovascular diseases
and their management since ICD-10 was published over 20 years ago. Changes
introduced for ICD-11 in this chapter reflect these changes and the shift in disease
profiles and increased survival following procedures. As a consequence, there has
been a major expansion in the number of disease entities within ICD-11, with new
classification hierarchies and updated nomenclature. For instance, the incidence of
heart valve disease is no longer dominated by rheumatic fever in developed societies,
although it remains important in developing nations, and consequently there has been
a shift in diagnostic paradigms to that of valve type, then valve pathology followed by
aetiology.

Many items previously classified in ICD-10 as ‘Other forms of heart disease’ (I30-I52)
have become major clinical issues in today’s cardiology, warranting the creation of new
distinct higher-level categories. Two examples are:

 Diseases of the myocardium, including extensive subsections on Myocarditis

and Cardiomyopathy.
 Cardiac arrhythmia, including a large new subsection on ‘Cardiac arrhythmia
associated with genetic disorder’ and ‘Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter or
defibrillator or lead dysfunction’, both of which are increasingly important areas
of clinical practice. The changes in this section have had major input and
endorsement from the Paediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society and
the International Society for Nomenclature of Paediatric and Congenital Heart
Disease.
The change in the ICD revision process to be clinically driven has meant that areas
primarily managed by non-cardiologists have been relocated to more suitable chapters.
Thus, Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69) have been reclassified to Chapter 08,
`Diseases of the nervous system’ and oesophageal varices (I85) have been relocated
to ‘Diseases of the digestive system (Chapter 13).

A new subsection on Pulmonary Hypertension in the Pulmonary heart disease and

diseases of pulmonary circulation section, is based on the resulting paper Updated
Clinical Classification of Pulmonary Hypertension, following the 5th World Symposium
held in Nice, France, in 2013.

The postprocedural disorders section has been markedly enlarged reflecting increased
survival after cardiovascular procedures over the last two decades with recognition of

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an increasing number of patients with postprocedural morbidities and disease specific

complications.

The section on Congenital anomaly of heart and great vessels and related acquired
abnormalities classified to Chapter 20 Developmental anomalies has been based on
the International Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code (IPCCC), which has been
created over the last decade by the International Society for Nomenclature of
Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease (ISNPCHD, [Link] As a
consequence, the 73 congenital cardiology ICD-10 entities in Q20-Q29 have been
expanded to 316 diagnoses, as an accurate summation of the heterogeneity of cardiac
malformations seen in clinical practice. Reference was also made to the Anatomic and
clinical classification of congenital heart defects (ACC-CHD) with the corresponding
IPCCC and ICD-10 codes.

2.33.12 Chapter 12 – Diseases of the respiratory system

[Link] Chapter 12 – Structure of Chapter 12
There are two main hierarchies in Chapter 12:

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type with some anatomy included
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
OR

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 12 – Rationale for Chapter 12
The changes to Chapter 12 have been made principally to provide current clinical
terminology and classification of conditions primarily affecting the respiratory system
and have been based on input from international societies and stakeholders. Infectious
lung diseases have been moved to Chapter 01 to better reflect the infectious nature of
these conditions. Neoplasms of the respiratory system are in Chapter 02 Neoplasms,
and Developmental respiratory diseases are now located in Chapter 20 Developmental
anomalies.

The grouping ‘Upper respiratory tract disorders’ contains upper respiratory tract
diseases except for conditions that moved to the Infectious disease chapter.

The Lower respiratory tract diseases shifted from the Chronic lower respiratory
diseases of the ICD-10, but Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was made
an independent category based on an international concept.

Cystic fibrosis has been moved to Certain lower respiratory tract diseases and multi-
parented to metabolic disorders in the Endocrine chapter because: ‘The representative
clinical conditions of cystic fibrosis are intractable respiratory infection, end stage
respiratory failure, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and digestive organ lesions such
as the meconium ileus. Cystic fibrosis is a disease due to an abnormality of the Cl ion
channel which is CFTR, symptoms of the respiratory symptom is recognised in nearly
all cases of patients. The cause of death is mainly respiratory abnormality, and this
disease is the target disease of lung transplantation.’ This description of cystic fibrosis

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is found in representative textbooks (‘Diseases of the Airways’ in the textbook ‘Fraser

and Pare’s Disease of the Chest’).

 ‘OBSTRUCTIVE DISEASES’ in the textbook ‘Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of

Respiratory Medicine’
 ‘OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASES’ in the textbook ‘Fishman’s pulmonary
diseases and disorders’
 ‘Disease of the Airways’ in the textbook ‘Fraser and Pare’s Disease of the Chest’
‘Pulmonary Diseases’ in the textbook ‘Washington Manual of Medical
Therapeutics, The, 34ed.’

The section pertaining to Inhalation, occupational and environmental lung disease has
been based on input from the WHO Occupational Health Division.

The Certain specified respiratory diseases principally affecting the lung interstitium
shifted from the Other respiratory diseases principally affecting the interstitium. The
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis was made an independent category based on an
international concept and the category of the Primary interstitial lung diseases specific
to infancy and childhood was created independently based on the proposal of
paediatric Topic Advisory Group (TAG).

The section of the Certain diseases of the respiratory system and the section of the
Postprocedural respiratory disorders were shifted from Other diseases of the
respiratory system of ICD-10 except the Mediastinal and diaphragm disorders that
moved to the section of Pleural, diaphragm and mediastinal disorders.

2.33.13 Chapter 13 – Diseases of the digestive system

[Link] Chapter 13 – Structure of Chapter 13
The general hierarchy of Chapter 13 consists of the following:

1st level - Detailed anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 13 – Rationale for Chapter 13
ICD-11 has been improved in structure and content to include diseases and disorders
of the orofacial complex. There are several other tissues which as essential
components of the orofacial complex, have an important function, and their impairment
will have a direct impact on oral health status. It is important to recognise that oral
health is more than having healthy teeth; having oral health is being free of chronic
oral-facial pain conditions, oral and pharyngeal cancers, oral soft tissue lesions,
periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss and tooth surface loss, birth
defects such as cleft lip and palate, and scores of other diseases and disorders that
affect the oral, dental, and craniofacial tissues (orofacial complex) as well as
associations with systemic health and disease. This underlines the importance of
providing a coherent system for coding and classifying data on orofacial complex
diseases and disorders so that the oral health professional can record and collect data
from each patient at their clinics, regardless of whether such facility may be part of
large hospitals, or small clinics. It is anticipated that being able to record and interpret
such data will enable health professionals to contribute to the improvement of oral

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health as an essential component of general health and will stimulate the use of ICD-11
by oral health personnel.

Major changes have been made to this chapter with very detailed anatomical groups
being added to the hierarchy for the digestive tract, according to rostral-caudal order,
with the exception of categories for hernia, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and
inflammatory bowel diseases.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are independently described because their

pathophysiology is considered from the standpoint of ‘Brain-Gut axis’, and not only
from their impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel diseases are also
independently described mainly because Crohn’s disease involves several organs. In
each anatomical group (organ group), aetiology based classifications are used to sub-
classify disorders. Particularly, GI disorders are arranged in the following categories:

A. Acquired anatomical or morphological alterations

B. Motor disorders

C. Inflammation including ulcer

D. Vascular disorders

E. Non-neoplastic polyps
In addition, there are two other categories listed, although Chapter 13 is not the primary
place for these disorders.

F. Structural developmental anomalies (located in Chapter 20 Developmental anomalies)

G. Neoplasms (located in Chapter 02 Neoplasms)

Important or common digestive diseases have been allocated their own category, for
example gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, columnar metaplastic epithelium,
intestinal malabsorption and protein-losing enteropathy, ulcerative colitis, non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease and diverticular disease. Polyps are now classified independently,
and not in the ‘other diseases’ section of anatomical site.

Common digestive diseases extending over several organs are classified principally
into the disease category of rostral organ. For example, ‘Gastroenteritis’ is classified in
‘Gastritis’, and ‘Gastroduodenal ulcer’ is classified in ‘Gastric ulcer’. The item ‘Peptic
ulcer, site unspecified’ should not be used due to advances in medical technology. It
should be classified into either the ‘Oesophageal ulcer, Gastric ulcer, Duodenal ulcer or
Anastomotic ulcer’ category, depending on the disease site.

Vascular disorders of GI organs have been allocated their own category. Oesophageal
varices, gastric varices and haemorrhoids are now classified in Chapter 13. In
‘Diseases of liver’, there are new independent categories including Metabolic and
transporter liver disease, Autoimmune liver diseases, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
and Vascular disorders of the liver.

For the classification of Chronic liver disease with cirrhosis, ‘Liver cirrhosis’, an item in
‘Hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis’, is used. For example, ‘Chronic hepatitis B’ and ‘Liver
cirrhosis’, ‘Chronic hepatitis C’ and ‘Liver cirrhosis’, ‘Autoimmune hepatitis’ and ‘Liver
cirrhosis’, ‘Primary biliary cholangiopathy’ and ‘Liver cirrhosis’, etc. There are new

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independent sections for ‘Diseases of gallbladder and biliary duct’ and ‘Diseases of
pancreas’. Within these new sections, there are new independent categories including
Structural developmental anomalies, Congenital anomalies, Acquired anatomical
alterations, Cholangitis, Cystic diseases of the pancreas, Chronic pancreatitis and
Autoimmune pancreatitis.

2.33.14 Chapter 14 – Diseases of the skin

[Link] Chapter 14 – Structure of Chapter 14
The general hierarchy of Chapter 14 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type with some anatomical site
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 14 – Rationale for Chapter 14
Major changes including a restructure have been made to this chapter adding detail
coming from the fusion of the American, British, and German dermatological
terminologies.

2.33.15 Chapter 15 – Diseases of the musculoskeletal

system or connective tissue
[Link] Chapter 15 – Structure of Chapter 15
The general hierarchy of Chapter 15 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of disease/disorder type

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type with some anatomical site
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 15 – Rationale for Chapter 15
The American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism
(ACR/EULAR) Diagnostic Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis (under development) was
used to inform the code hierarchy and content model attributes for Rheumatoid
arthritis. Current literature informed the change of title of ‘systemic connective tissue
disorders’ to ‘non-organ specific systemic autoimmune disorders’. The changes to
vasculitis were based on the classification of the Chapel Hill International Consensus
Conference on the Nomenclature of Systemic Vasculitis.

The category ‘Dermatopolymyositis’ was changed to ‘Idiopathic inflammatory

myopathies’ with a change of axes and introduction of further granularity.

The revisions to the classification of spondyloarthritis reflect current expert opinion with
comments from Dr Robert Landewé, with a separation of axial and peripheral.
Together, the axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis criteria cover the entire spectrum of
what was formerly called (undifferentiated) spondyloarthritis and (ankylosing)
spondylitis. There is re-arrangement of infective spondyloarthritis, with a secondary
axis for the major types of infective process, i.e. bacterial, fungal etc., and
supplementary codes to be used for the specific infection.

The new category for Auto-inflammatory syndromes is based on the work of the
International Society of Systemic Auto-inflammatory Disease (ISSAID).

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2.33.16 Chapter 16 – Diseases of the genitourinary system

[Link] Chapter 16 – Structure of Chapter 16
Chapter 16 has specific sections for Diseases of the female genitourinary system,
Diseases of the male genitourinary system, Disorders of breast, Diseases of the urinary
system and Postprocedural disorders of the genitourinary system.

The general hierarchy of Chapter 16 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of body system

2nd level - Broad disease/disorder type (with some anatomy)
3rd level - Specific disease/disorder type (with some anatomy)
[Link] Chapter 16 – Rationale for chapter 16
The changes to Chapter 16 are aimed at increasing the clinical utility of the
classification by providing a more user-friendly hierarchical structure, increased
international comparability and standardisation of genitourinary conditions. This is
accomplished by including the most scientifically accurate and internationally agreed-
upon terms and definitions provided by various international stakeholders, including the
WHO department of Reproductive Health and Research, the International Federation of
Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), National Kidney Foundation and the Kidney
Disease International Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

The chapter hierarchy is subdivided into Diseases of the Female Genital System,
Diseases of the Male Genital System and Diseases of the Urinary system. This
architecture of the female genital system and male genital system was designed to
improve the end-user experience. The female genital system hierarchy is broken down
into non-inflammatory and inflammatory disorders, and then further divided by
anatomical grouping in the order of gynaecologic (and obstetric) examination (from
external to internal genitalia), where applicable. (Vulva, Vagina, Cervix, Uterus,
Fallopian Tube, Ovary, Pelvic Cavity).

These groupings have further subdivisions for congenital and acquired abnormalities,
as appropriate.

To reflect the current scientific understanding for certain genitourinary conditions,

additional detail has been included for the following areas:

Amenorrhea

Ovarian dysfunction

Female pelvic pain

Endometriosis

Adenomyosis

Female infertility

Male infertility

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Early pregnancy loss

Pregnancy outcomes

The Kidney failure section of the classification has been revised to reflect the current
evidence-based definitions of acute kidney versus chronic kidney disease and the new
Kidney Disease (‘Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definitions and staging system
for acute kidney failure’.)

2.33.17 Chapter 17 – Conditions related to sexual health

[Link] Chapter 17 – Structure of Chapter 17
New chapter in ICD-11 divided into major sections for:

Sexual dysfunctions

Sexual pain disorders

Gender incongruence

1st level - Broad category of condition

2nd level - Specific type of condition
3rd level - Specific disease/disorder
[Link] Chapter 17 – Rationale for Chapter 17
The chapter has been formulated to group sexually related conditions. This also allows
categorisation of gender identity related conditions without stigmatisation, while
maintaining recognition of these entities as real conditions so that related heath
interventions can be accommodated within the health system.

2.33.18 Chapter 18 – Pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium

[Link] Chapter 18 – Structure of Chapter 18
The general hierarchy of Chapter 18 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category related to the stages of pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium
2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 18 – Rationale for Chapter 18
The changes to this chapter are intended to increase clinical utility of the classification
by providing a more user-friendly hierarchical structure. Increasing the international
comparability and standardisation of conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and the
puerperium by including the most scientifically accurate and internationally agreed-
upon terms and definitions provided by various international stakeholders, such as the
WHO department of RHR, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
(FIGO), was also a highly important aspect of the modifications. Particular attention
was given to correct integration of concepts and definitions of the International
Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART).

The changes reflect the current understanding for certain conditions related to
pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. Additional specifications have been included
for Early pregnancy loss

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2.33.19 Chapter 19 – Certain conditions originating in the

perinatal period
[Link] Chapter 19 – Structure of Chapter 19
The general hierarchy of Chapter 19 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category disease/disorder type and some anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
2.33.20 Chapter 20 – Developmental anomalies
[Link] Chapter 20 – Structure of Chapter 20
Chapter 20 has undergone a major restructure with it now having four major sections

Structural developmental anomalies primarily affecting one body system

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
Multiple developmental anomalies or syndromes

1st level - Broad category of anatomy

2nd level - Specific disease/disorder type
3rd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
Chromosomal anomalies, excluding gene mutations

1st level - Specific disease/disorder type

2nd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
Conditions with disorders of intellectual development as a relevant clinical feature

1st level - Non-syndromic vs syndromic conditions

2nd level - Further specificity of disease/disorder type
[Link] Chapter 20 – Rationale for Chapter 20
The ICD–10 classification of developmental anomalies is covered by chapter XVII:
Q00-Q99 Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities.

It is a very heterogeneous chapter, including malformations, genetic syndromes (with

or without malformations) and chromosomal anomalies. This leads to confusion
between genetic origin of a disease and malformation. Therefore, all genetic
syndromes without structural developmental anomalies are excluded from this chapter
and are reallocated to appropriate chapters of the ICD-11, according to the affected
body system(s).

The new chapter 20 has three main divisions:

 Structural developmental anomalies/malformations

 Multiple developmental anomalies and syndromes
 Chromosomal anomalies and genetic defects

The first division ‘Structural developmental anomalies/malformations’ includes isolated

conditions affecting only one body system. It is organised in sections corresponding to
those body systems, which are also classified in the other relevant chapters of ICD–11.

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The second division ‘Multiple developmental anomalies and syndromes’ includes

conditions affecting several locations within one body system, or several body systems
simultaneously. Syndromes which can be said to predominantly affect one body
system are assigned to corresponding sections within this division. Syndromes which
affect several body systems, without one clearly predominating, are put together in a
specific section at the end of the division. There is also a section for Dysplasia
syndromes due to inborn errors of metabolism, all of them primarily classified in the
chapter for metabolic diseases.

The third division ‘Chromosomal anomalies and genetic defects’ departs from the
clinical approach generally followed in the ICD and classifies developmental anomalies
defined genetically or cytogenetically, since there is no clear-cut distinction between
genetics and cytogenetics. We have started to include specific deletions and
duplications corresponding to a clear phenotype, knowing that many more will be
described in the coming years. Future ones will be added whenever necessary, during
the post-publication revisions of the ICD–11.

A special problem is how to deal with diseases historically defined clinically but
including a chromosomal/genetic anomaly as aetiology. In some cases, there are
several aetiologies for the clinical entity, and not all of them are chromosomal
anomalies: for instance, Silver-Russell syndrome can be caused by a 11p15
duplication, a 7p11.2p13 duplication, but also by maternal uniparental disomy of
chromosome 7 or 11 and imprinting defects of 11p15. In other cases, there is an
overwhelming correspondence between the clinical entity and a cytogenetic aetiology:
for instance, Williams-Beuren syndrome corresponds to the 7q11.23 deletion.

Polyhierarchy is used in a restricted way within the frame of this chapter: once a
disease is assigned to a section, it is generally not secondarily classified elsewhere in
the chapter. The structure would otherwise become too intricate. On the other hand, all
entities in this chapter are to be classified in other chapters of ICD–11, when
appropriate.

2.33.21 Chapter 21 – Symptoms, signs or clinical findings,

not elsewhere classified
[Link] Chapter 21 – Structure of Chapter 21
Chapter 21 is divided into major sections based on body systems. Each of these
sections has the following categories, as appropriate:

 Symptoms and signs

 Clinical findings

An additional section is located at the end of this chapter for Ill-defined and unknown
causes of mortality.

[Link] Chapter 21 – Rationale for Chapter 21

The different chapters of ICD–10 included several clinical manifestation categories,
some of them as asterisk codes. In order to simplify the structure, improve the use of
postcoordination, and also to remove ‘ill-defined’ conditions from organ chapters,
several former asterisk codes, additional detail for diverse conditions, and the said ill-

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defined conditions have been moved here. All follow the main organisation by anatomy,
and the anatomical groupings have a secondary parent to the relevant organ chapter,
improving the user guidance.

2.33.22 Chapter 22 – Injury, poisoning or certain other

consequences of external causes
[Link] Chapter 22 – Structure of Chapter 22
The general hierarchy of Chapter 22 consists of the following:

1st level - Broad category of anatomy (e.g. head; hip & thigh)
2nd level - Broad category of injury type (e.g. fracture; open wound
3rd level - Further specification
OR

1st level - Broad category of cause of injury

2nd level - Specific injury type
3rd level - Further specificity of injury type

[Link] Chapter 22 – Rationale for Chapter 22

The principles of the revision were:

 Maintain good back-compatibility with ICD–10, particularly by minimising change

at the former three-character level. Change at the former four-character level is
more extensive but has also been done with this principle in mind.
 Take account of the extensions to this chapter in clinical modifications of ICD–10
because:
o They are evidence of extensions required to serve clinical purposes in
identified situations.
o It is preferable to minimise incompatibilities with these classifications.
 Take account of classifications other than ICD that are in wide clinical use for
conditions in scope for this chapter.
 Take account of advice, solicited and proffered.
o Increased attention to distinctions pertinent to treatment choices and to
outcomes, including disability.
These include allowing identification of clinically and prognostically important aspects
of fractures (notably whether they extend into a joint) and organ/vessel injuries
(degree). Some conditions are much more important when bilateral, and in such
instances side has been proposed as precoordinated entities (e.g. injury of the eyes).
The United States’ clinical modification of ICD-10 (ICD-10-CM) was particularly
valuable in this regard, as its injury chapter makes many distinctions, beyond ICD–10,
which follow or are consistent with credible and widely used clinical classifications
relevant to injury treatment and outcome.

Increased attention has been given to injury conditions specific to childhood

(e.g. greenstick and epiphyseal fractures) and to injury conditions that are indicative of
possible intentional injury (e.g. posterior rib fractures, ‘bucket-handle’ and ‘corner’
fractures).

The work was done with awareness that this chapter is not used to code Underlying
Cause of Death.

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The morbidity use case is particularly important for this chapter.

2.33.23 Chapter 23 – External causes of morbidity or

mortality
[Link] Chapter 23 – Structure of Chapter 23
The general hierarchy of Chapter 23 consists of the following sections:

1st level - Intent of external cause (unintentional, intentional self-harm, assault, undetermined intent
and intent pending.)
2nd level - Broad category of mechanism of external cause
3rd level - More specific mechanism and objects/substances involved in causing injury
4th level - Further characterisation of the external cause
Other sections include Exposure to extreme forces, Maltreatment, Legal intervention,
Armed conflict and Causes of health care related harm.

[Link] Chapter 23 – Rationale for Chapter 23

The main aim of the changes was to provide a more uniform coding structure while still
maintaining high compatibility with ICD–10. The changes to the traffic injury categories
are aimed at simplifying code selection, while the section on Operations of war and
armed conflicts has been revised to capture the more current situations of armed
conflicts. Another enhancement has been to produce a single, hierarchical list of
noxious substances to serve the Injury and External Causes chapters. This list has
been drawn from appropriate external systems (e.g. SNOMED-CT) for reference
information.

All mechanisms/objects codable for all intents:

 More uniform code structure

 Revised ‘Intent’ dimension (N.B. Intent pending; ISH: suicidal/non-suicidal)
 Retain transport codes, but expand vehicle types
 Expanded Place of Occurrence codes
 Expanded and revised Activity dimension (N.B. work-relatedness)
 Revision of Complications of Medical & Surgical Care
 Expanded Legal/War Codes
 Improved provision for maltreatment syndromes
 Introduction of additional dimensions (optional)
 Revision of External Cause index, rules and guidelines
 Provide for Mortality, Morbidity, Lower Resource Settings, Research

Progress has been made on all of these points, though constrained in some respects,
particularly for the mortality use-case (due to the tight constraints on code-space
combined with the lack of provision for postcoordination/cluster-coding). A section on
limitations is at the end of these notes.

Notes provided here focus on several of these points; additional material will be
provided on other aspects on request. Comments are also provided here on the two
main issues that involve both the External Causes chapter and the Injury chapter (both
also involve Chapter X Extension codes): substances; complications of care (Safety &
Quality).

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Transport

Four dimensions are implicit in the ICD–10 range V01-V89: injured person’s mode of
transport (e.g. motorcycle), whether the injurious event occurred in road traffic (if so,
the resulting injury is a road injury), the injured person’s role (e.g. passenger), and what
other type of vehicle was involved, if any (counterpart). All four dimensions are required
for a revised structure that is conceptually equivalent to the ICD–10 ‘transport
accidents’ module at four- character level.

All four dimensions have been precoordinated in the Unintentional transport injury
module. This produces a structure with high back-compatibility with ICD–10 V– at four-
character level. It preserves all top-level modes of transport categories (some now
split) and the four conceptual dimensions (mode; and for land transport modes:
whether in traffic, transport user role and counterpart).

In recognition of code-space limitations, and of the fact that most transport injury cases
are unintentional, precoordination of transport cases in the other main intent blocks
(intentional self-harm, assault, undetermined intent, and intent pending) is limited to
intent by mode of transportation. However, the other dimensions are available for
optional use.

The revised transport block includes changes made to resolve problems identified with
the ICD– 10 transport section.

 Split several modes of transport to enable identification of important and

emerging types that cannot be identified in ICD–10.
 Refined and revised terms and definitions (for clarity, to fill gaps in the set
provided in ICD–10 and to improve comparability with terms used internationally
for road safety).
 Various other revisions (e.g. of types of vessel in water transport section). Note
that the coordination order has been altered from the equivalent in ICD–10,
from: mode, counterpart, then user role and traffic status combined to: mode,
traffic status, user role, counterpart.

The main reason for this change was to simplify the selection of ‘traffic accident’
categories, which are frequently required when reporting road injury.

War and armed conflict

A revised classification is provided for inclusion as the expansion of intent category

Armed conflict (Operations of war in ICD–10). The classification largely follows the
expansion of Y36 in the United States’ clinical modification of ICD–10 (ICD–10-CM).
This follows the 4-character categories in ICD–10 and provides subdivisions, which
follow inclusion notes given in ICD–10. In addition, sub-categories are provided to
distinguish whether the injured person was military or civilian.

The rubric has been altered by the addition of ‘…and armed conflict’ to ‘Operations of
war’, and the inclusion term has been altered accordingly. ‘War’ and ‘civil insurrection’
(which also formed part of the inclusion term) were not defined in ICD–10. The use of a
term broader than ‘war’ is considered desirable because war, in the sense of formally
declared armed conflicts between nation states (or subnational entities) has become

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uncommon. Armed conflicts of a range of types and intensities, while tending to

become less common, remain much more numerous than wars. Restriction of use of
this category to declared wars, and/or to armed conflicts that meet a commonly used
criterion of intensity (1,000 or more battle-related deaths in a calendar year = war) was
thought to be unduly restrictive. The alternative proposed here is to also include injuries
due to ‘Minor’ armed conflicts, defined as those resulting in 25 to < 1,000 battle-related
deaths in a calendar year. Application of the definition is aided by the existence of a
publicly accessible database listing conflicts found to satisfy it.

Crossover issues

These are matters that affect both the injury and the external causes chapters, and
other parts of the ICD.

Toxic effects of substances

Toxic effects of noxious substances appear in ICD–10 at several points, in the Injury
and External Causes chapters, and in other chapters. Code lists at those points differ in
specificity and are not completely consistent. A design aim for ICD–11 is to produce a
single, hierarchical list of noxious substances to serve all of the purposes required for
the Injury and External Causes chapters. It is also intended to draw and link with
appropriate external systems (N.B. SNOMED-CT) to provide reference information.
The benefits of this are: external source(s) can define-by-example the inclusions of the
ICD–11 list; and if the external source(s) are actively updated, then this provides a way
for the ICD–11 coverage of substances to remain current.

The term ‘Harmful effects’ is used for all types of harm resulting from harmful chemical
effects of substances of all types. It is recognised that other terms, such as ‘toxic
effect’, ‘poisoning’, ‘chemical corrosion’ and ‘envenomation’ are sometimes used in the
context of particular substances. These terms will be included as synonyms and
subordinate terms where in common use. A number of sources were consulted,
including ICECI Objects & Substances dimension; Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical
(ATC) classification; TAG-IEG advisory groups on drugs and poisons; Quality and
safety TAG; SNOMED; IPCS INTOX.

The list has two main hierarchical levels.

The first, with 16 categories, is conceptually related to the code-list that is present in
ICD–10 at X40-X49 (Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances) and
the equivalent points in the Intentional Self-harm and Undetermined intent code-blocks.
The list results from application of these principles:

 It should have few categories. This is necessary for practicability, especially in

the context of cause of death coding and because the block structure of the
external causes chapter has the effect that each additional category adds
several rows.
 The categories should refer to substances or classes of substances that are
important causes of mortality or morbidity.
 As many as possible of the categories should be sufficiently specific to be
meaningful as reporting groups. (By comparison, several categories in the ICD–
10 blocks such as X40-X49 are so broad as to be difficult to interpret).

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 The several main contexts of exposure were kept in mind when specifying
categories (i.e. recreational/street use; clinical use; self-harm; industrial and
other exposures).

The 16 categories, either alone or combined with others, allow backwards

comparability with eight of the ten categories in ICD–10 X40-X49 (and the equivalent
groups in the ISH and Undetermined intent blocks). The only exceptions are two
residual groups: ‘…other gases and vapours’ and ‘…other and unspecified chemicals
and noxious substances’. The second level provides categories (n=381), with about the
same number and specificity of substances that are provided for in the injury and
external causes chapters of ICD–10. It includes all of the categories of substances that
are specified in the ‘Cause of harm’ component of the Quality and Safety TAG
classification.

Some categories have been added: to allow for pharmacological innovation and
changes in drug use (e.g. synthetic cannabinoids); to reflect additions to ICD–10 made
in its clinical modifications (e.g. more specificity concerning anticoagulants); to allow
more specific identification of prominent drugs (e.g. paracetamol); to provide for
additional widely-used recreational drugs (e.g. Cathinone, the main active agent in
khat); and on advice from other TAGs (e.g. types of substance added by the Safety
and Quality TAG). We anticipate that more categories will be added in future updates,
to reflect changes in drug availability and use.

A more comprehensive list of substances (a superset of the hierarchical list), with

synonyms for many of the entries, will be provided in the Section ‘Extension codes’.
That list shares the same hierarchical structure as the pre-coordinated codes. It also
takes account of the ICD–11 Supplementary Classification of Contact Allergens
prepared by the Dermatology TAG. Entries in the Extension codes substances list will
be specified in terms of equivalent terms in SNOMED-CT.

Complications of care (Quality and Safety)

This section briefly describes the model for coding complications of care that has been
developed by the Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group (TAG).

The model has three parts, each of which must be coded. The postcoordinated codes
for all the parts must be designated as belonging to a cluster. The three concepts are:

1. The resultant injury or harm;

2. The cause of harm; and
3. The ‘Mode/Mechanism’ of harm. Classifications and code-sets have been
developed for (2) and (3) by the Quality and safety TAG. The categories have
been entered into the External Causes chapter. The resultant harm (1) is to be
coded by using the most appropriate disease or injury code from any part of
ICD–11.

The construct would, in principle, fit well into ICD–11 as follows:

1. Resultant injury or harm. Code selected from anywhere in ICD–11.

2. The cause or ‘Mode’ of harm: Code selected from the relevant block in External
Causes chapter

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3. ‘Mode/Mechanism’ of harm

Sanctioning rules lead coders to the subset of ‘Mode’ codes that are relevant, given the
selected ‘Cause’ (e.g. if ‘Cause’ is a drug, then the relevant ‘Modes’ are categories
such as overdose and underdose).

2.33.24 Chapter 24 – Factors influencing health status or

contact with health services
[Link] Chapter 24 – Structure of Chapter 24
This chapter has two major sections:

Reasons for contact with the health service

Factors influencing health status

The general hierarchy of Chapter 24 consists of the following axis:

1st level - Broad category of a particular health status or service

2nd level - Specific condition
[Link] Chapter 24 – Rationale for Chapter 24
Initially, the Functioning Topic Advisory Group for ICD–11 (fTAG) was tasked with the
review of the Factors Chapter. They were to evaluate the necessity of each of the 801
codes and propose a revised hierarchical structure for the essential content that would
remain. This content was to be both clinically relevant and use-friendly as well as
allowing the necessary space for expansion using the extension codes, as necessary.
fTAG organised a review that identified the major ‘types’ of codes as ‘diagnostic’,
‘interventional’, ‘contextual factors’ and ‘other/debatable’. This review was combined
with the general structure of the ICPC2 classification section on ‘social problems’ and a
new organisation was designed that combined the ICPC2 hierarchy with the ICD–11
codes. For the JLMMS, a shoreline exercise was then undertaken on the new structure
to decrease granularity seen as unnecessary.

2.33.25 Chapter 25 – Codes for Special purposes

[Link] Chapter 25 – Structure of Chapter 25
This chapter consists of two blocks:

International provisional assignment of new diseases of uncertain aetiology, containing

the international emergency codes,

AND

National provisional assignment of new diseases of uncertain aetiology, containing

codes for use by individual countries

2.33.26 Chapter 26 - Supplementary Chapter Traditional

Medicine Conditions
This supplementary chapter for optional use in ICD has currently the ‘Traditional
Medicine Module 1’ (TM1) chapter is a new supplementary chapter for optional use in

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ICD, and as such is referred to as the ‘TM1 chapter’.The rationale for its inclusion in
ICD-11 is to enable Traditional Medicine health services and encounters to count and
be counted nationally and internationally. The Module in this chapter in its current form
refers to disorders and patterns which originated in ancient Chinese Medicine and
developed throughout history to incorporate contemporary science and technology.
These disorders and patterns are commonly used in China, Japan, Korea, United
States of America, Australia, Europe and elsewhere around the world. The
classification rubrics represent a unified set of harmonised Traditional Medicine
disorders and patterns from national classifications from China, Japan and Korea.
Future Modules may be developed for other forms of Traditional Medicine practices.

Scope:

This chapter has currently been designed for morbidity recording and reporting. It must
not be used for mortality coding and reporting.

Content and structure:

The content and structure of the TM1 Chapter represent a common language
developed jointly through the international cooperation of Traditional Medicine
clinicians, researchers, academics and classification experts to enable international
comparability of practice and reporting of morbidity in Traditional Medicine.
Standardisation of this TM1 classification will allow clinical documentation in different
countries to incorporate the same concepts and enable coders and users to extract
comparable morbidity data from that documentation. Coders must also be guided by
rules which reflect the clinical diagnostic decision-making process. However, the rules
are relatively flexible to allow for national adaptations and research questions
concerning relationships between diseases, disorders and patterns to be framed from a
number of different angles.

The English terms do not necessarily represent the most common translation of the TM
terms in Chinese, Korean or Japanese. Where the best fit English TM translation
resulted in the same term as used in Western Medicine, it was necessary to indicate a
difference between the Western Medicine (WM) concept and TM concept where the
same term had different definitions in TM and WM. This difference in definition is
indicated by the use of (TM1) for disorders and patterns throughout the TM chapter.

Terminology:

The Supplementary Chapter Traditional Medicine Conditions, Module 1, uses the terms
disorder and pattern to describe concepts. This is different from the concept
descriptions in the Western Medicine chapters which refer to diseases (clinical
pictures) and syndromes (clinical presentations). The TM1 chapter is divided into
separate sections for disorder and pattern to emphasise the independence of these
concepts. Definitions

A disorder in traditional medicine (disorder (TM1)) refers to a set of dysfunctions in

any body system which is judged from associated signs, symptoms or findings. Each
disorder (TM1) may be defined by its symptomatology, aetiological explanation based
on traditional medicine, course and outcome, treatment response or linkage to
interacting environmental factors. A disorder (TM1) is a clinical picture that is relatively

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stable and reflects the local pathology and related specific manifestations commonly
found in the anatomy and function of the affected individuals.

A pattern in traditional medicine (pattern (TM1)) refers to the manifestation of the

patient’s health condition at a given moment in time including all findings which may
include:

 Symptomatology: pattern of specific and non-specific signs, symptoms or unique

findings by traditional medicine diagnostic methods, including the taking of the
pulse, examination of the tongue, abdominal examination and other methods
that reflect the systemic response of the patient in a dysfunctional condition.
 Constitution: the characteristics of an individual, including structural and
functional characteristics, temperament, ability to adapt to environmental
changes, or susceptibility to various health conditions.

A pattern (TM1) is a clinical picture that is relatively temporary, reflects on the systemic
response of the patient and combined pattern of specific and non-specific
manifestations that usually hold a multifactorial relationship with the local pathology
and the constitutional traits of the patient. A pattern may show individual difference
even in the individuals affected by the same pathology that may be further analysed by
the theoretical frame of Traditional Medicine.

Traditional Medicine disorder and pattern are named after the body structures, causal
explanations, properties and severity which present for clinical investigation and
diagnosis. TM1 pattern may denote an individually different pattern (TM1) of systemic
responses to the WM disease or TM1 disorder. Pattern is a concept unique to TM1 and
may be different from TM1 disorder in the following ways:

Table 1: Characteristics of Traditional Medicine Disorders and Patterns

Distinguishing Disorder in Pattern in Traditional

Feature Traditional Medicine Medicine
A clinical picture that is
relatively A clinical picture that is
Constant/ Temporary
constant throughout the relatively temporary
duration of that disorder

Usually delivers information

Usually delivers information
Constant Pathology/ reflecting the temporary overall
reflecting the constant
Temporary Response manifestation or response of
pathology
the patient

The combination of the

A concept that
manifestations that
summarises findings that
Specific/ Non-specific encompasses both specific
are specific to the pathologic
symptoms/signs and non-
process under investigation
specific findings

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Distinguishing Disorder in Pattern in Traditional

Feature Traditional Medicine Medicine
A pattern may be applied for a
specific time span, too. However,
a pattern code is based on the
summarised whole picture that
may be observed in the patient
May be applied for a time
based on the perspectives of
span. A disorder coding may
traditional medicine theories. A
be based on the main
pattern is recognized based on
Linear/ Multifactorial pathologic process which
the analysis of the systemic
may show a causal
findings in the patient’s body and
relationship with the main
mind which reflect the pathologic
manifestations in the patient
processes, responses to the
pathologic processes, other
concomitant findings, and innate
or acquired constitutional traits of
the patient

Used to describe the general

Used to describe the individual
characteristics considered
Commonality/ characteristics considered to
to be relatively common to
Individuality be relatively specific to the
the population suffering from
patient at that time
one particular disorder

Usually described with terms of

Usually described the traditional medicine
with general terms of theories that are used to
General/ Theoretical anatomy and summarise the underlying
physiology together with mechanism in the patient such as
terms of signs and symptoms yin and yang balance, cold and
heat, meridian, or constitution

[Link] Section V – Supplementary section for functioning

assessment
This chapter is new. The list of 47 entities in this chapter is intended for assessment
and scoring in the context of ICD. It is using ICF functioning domains of high
explanatory power (ICF Annex 9). The categories are intended to be used as a set.
The set has been defined in a way that general and domain specific summary scores
can be calculated using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO DAS 2.0)
or the WHO Model Disability Survey (MDS).

2.33.27 Section X - Extension Codes

This chapter is new. Extension codes are envisaged as providing the basis for
postcoordination of ICD–11 codes, being the repository for all codes in a linearization
that are not eligible for use as stem codes. This mechanism is clearly envisaged for
use with the morbidity linearization, and in that context mandatory (i.e. required)

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postcoordination can be accommodated. The role of Extension codes and

postcoordination in the context of the mortality linearization is less clear, and the
provision for mandatory postcoordination of Extension codes dimensions in the
mortality linearization has been judged to be unlikely.

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3 Part 3 - New in ICD-11

3.1 ICD maintenance and application
The ICD maintenance process allows the continuous adaptation of the ICD following
the evolution in the understanding of diseases, treatments, and prevention. A proposal
and review mechanism on an online platform makes the process transparent.
Workflows ensure that proposed changes are considered both from a medical and
scientific perspective and from their value and place in a particular use case.

Table 1: Major changes from ICD-10 to ICD-11, including rationale

ICD-10 ICD-11
Coding Scheme
Chapter numbering is roman numerals Chapter numbering is Arabic

3-character categories, each of which

Stem code (category) is 4 characters and
can be further divided into up to 10 four-
there are 2 levels of subcategories
character subcategories.

An alphanumeric code with a letter in the

second position and number in the third
character position to differentiate from the
codes of ICD-10. The inclusion of a forced
number at the 3rd character position
prevents spelling ‘undesirable words’•. A
Alphanumeric code with a letter in the
letter in the 2nd character position allows for
first position and a number in the second,
clear distinction between a code from ICD-11
third and fourth positions. The fourth
and one from ICD-10. Alphanumeric codes
character follows a decimal point.
cover the range from 1A00.00 to [Link].
Codes starting with an ‘X’ indicate an
extension code (see Extension code
chapter). The letters ‘O’ and ‘I’• are omitted
to prevent confusion with the numbers ‘0’
and ‘1’•.

The first character of a code is a letter The first character of the code always relates
and does not relate to the chapter to the chapter. A first character of 1-9 is used
number. The letter may have been the for chapters 1 through 9 and for chapters 10
same for two short chapters through 27, the first character is a letter. The
(e.g. Chapter VII (H00-H5(and Chapter code range of a single chapter always has
VIII (H60-H95), or two letters may have the same character in the first position. For
been used for one long chapter example, 1A00 is a code in chapter 1, and
(e.g. Chapter XIX S00-T98). BA00 is a code in chapter 11.

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ICD-10 ICD-11
The terminal letter ‘Y’ is reserved for the
Residual category identified by numeric
residual category ‘other specified’• and the
character .8 and unspecified category
terminal letter ‘Z’• is reserved for the
identified by numeric character .9.
residual category ‘unspecified’•.

Code cluster concept does not exist in ICD-11 supports postcoordination and the
ICD-10. linking codes within a code cluster.

Terminology

The preferred term is ‘due to’• for categories

where two conditions are mentioned and
a range of expressions are used to causal sequence exists. Other terms, such
describe a causal relationship between as ‘caused by’; or ‘attributed to’ may be
conditions in a code title allowed synonyms. The phrase ‘secondary
to’ is equivalent and may also be included as
a synonym.

The preferred term is ‘associated with’• for

a range of expressions indicating the
categories where two conditions are
concurrence of two conditions in a code
mentioned and there is no causal sequence
title (e.g. ‘in’• or ‘with’•).
implied.
Dagger-Asterisk system and additional sub-classifications

ICD-10 ICD-11

ICD-10 (and ICD-9) used the

dagger asterisk system to Asterisk and other codes that
describe the aetiological served to add detail, may be
condition for primary found in Chapter 21 Symptoms,
tabulation (dagger code) and signs or clinical findings, not
the clinical manifestation, elsewhere classified, the
Dagger asterisk relevant site and or other extension code chapter or in a
system aspects (asterisk code). In body system chapter as
addition, there were sets of appropriate. The extension
codes to be used to add more code chapter groups anatomy,
detail (e.g. B95-B97) or lists agent, histopathology and other
of sub-classifications to add aspects that may be used to
anatomical detail to add detail to a code.
categories.

Cluster coding - an explicit way

Use of multiple codes More than one category could of marking a cluster of codes
for one be used to specify more detail that are postcoordinated or
condition/additional for another category. For jointly used to code one
sub-classifications example, infectious agents condition.

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ICD-10 ICD-11

(B95-B97) or the asterisk

codes.

‘Code also’ instructions inform

about additional information
that needs to be coded in
‘Code also’
N/A conjunction with certain
instruction’
categories, because that
additional information is
relevant for primary tabulation
The dagger and asterisk system has been removed in ICD-11, but the functionality of
coding the aetiology and manifestation remains. A number of former asterisk codes
that were previously used to identify manifestations of diseases are now listed in
Chapter 21 Symptoms, signs, or clinical findings, not elsewhere classified. A portion of
former asterisk codes also reside in the corresponding body system chapter.. Asterisk
codes that were repetitions of the dagger code were removed. Lists for coding optional
anatomical detail have been grouped into one section - ‘Extension codes’.

Other general differences

ICD-11
All ICD-11 categories have a short and a long description. The short
description describes the meaning of the category in 100 words or less
Category
and appears in the printed version of the classification. The long
description
description is without length restriction, including detailed information that
appears in the content model.

All ICD-11 categories include separate information on anatomy, aetiology

Content
and other aspects that can be accessed for search purposes, or when
model
browsing in the tabular list of the MMS.
Special tabulation lists of ICD-10 continue to exist, but there are two additional ones,
the Startup Mortality List (SMoL) and the list for verbal autopsy. Additional special
tabulations can be derived from the new multiple parenting technique, e.g. all WHO
notifiable diseases, listing all conditions that are assigned to the relevant section of the
infectious diseases chapter.

For morbidity, the definition of main diagnosis has changed to be ‘the reason for
admission, after assessment at the end of the stay’. This definition is less prone to
interpretation, and countries that had switched from the ‘most resource intensive’
definition to the ‘reason for admission at the end of the stay’ using ICD-10, noticed only
small changes in their activity statistics.

3.1.1 Description
The description is a short characterization (maximum of 100 words) of the entity that
states things that are always true about a disease or condition and necessary to
understand the scope of the rubric. Descriptions do not contain elements intended for
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in level 3 (common epidemiology) or things that may be true for level 4 (clinical criteria).
Descriptions were formerly called ‘short definitions’.

3.1.2 Additional Information

This is a text field that is not mandatory, but that may contain any additional information
about, or characteristics of, the diseases or conditions included in the entity. This text
field provides more context for the entity. For example, the most common
epidemiologic circumstances, putative or highly suspected aetiologic agents, or other
information that may not always be true but may be common, typical, or expected.
Additional information was formally called ‘long definition’.

3.1.3 Code Structure

The codes of the ICD–11 are alphanumeric and cover the range from 1A00.00 to
[Link]. Codes starting with ‘X’ indicate an extension code (see Extension codes).
The inclusion of a forced number at the 3rd character position prevents spelling
‘undesirable words’. A letter in the 2nd character position allows for clear distinction
between a code from ICD–11 and one from ICD–10.

3.1.4 ‘Present on Admission’

The inclusion of the new Extension codes in ICD–11 provides capacity for coding
qualifying information of linked stem codes. Among the new qualifying features is the
particularly important status display feature that allows for distinction of diagnoses
present at admission from diagnoses arising after hospital stay began.

3.2 Mortality coding in ICD-11

Mortality coding instructions of ICD has matured over time and basically has been
maintained for ICD-11, while the text has been formatted using more easy wordings to
enhance common understandings and standardized implementation. Major changes in
the classification has been incorporated in the mortality coding instructions.

Several new concepts or terminologies of ICD-11, for instance postcoordination or

cluster coding, ‘code also’ and ‘use additional code if desired’ instructions will function
to capture further information reported on the death certificate. In ICD-10 mortality
coding, multiple cause coding, several modification rules in Step M4, or certain flags
used in automated coding systems has been used to capture details reported on the
death certificate and to facilitate accurate selection of underlying cause. And in this
sense, it is considered that the function of postcoordination etc. has been embedded in
ICD-10 mortality coding practice, while in ICD-11 the concepts more evident and
several new instruction was added to inform how to apply these new concepts (see
Part 2 of this Reference Guide).

The following table used in Step M1 for coding complications of diabetes mellitus is
provided for optional use. This list is not a complete list of possible complications of
diabetes mellitus, and is intended not to be updated but kept for users who are
interested in consistency between ICD-10 coding.

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TUC is:
5A10-5A2Y Diabetes If desired, postcoordination may be used to specify
mellitus complications of diabetes mellitus.

with mention of:

(coma) MB20.1 Coma

(ketoacidosis) 5C73 Acidosis

5C50.G Trimethylaminuria

MA18.Y Other specified abnormal findings of blood

chemistry

(renal complications) GB40-GB4Z Glomerular diseases

GB61 Chronic kidney disease

GB6Z Kidney failure, unspecified

MF54.0 Smooth contracted kidney

GB90.4Z Renal tubular function disorders, unspecified

(ophthalmic complications) 9A96.Z Anterior uveitis, unspecified

9B10.Z Cataract, unspecified

9B65.2 Chorioretinal inflammation

9B78.1 Background retinopathy and retinal vascular

changes

9B78.2 Other proliferative retinopathy

9B7Z Disorders of the retina, unspecified

(neurological
8C12 Certain specified mononeuropathies
complications)

8C1Z Mononeuropathy, unspecified

8C0Z Polyneuropathy, unspecified

8C4Y Other specified disorders of nerve root, plexus or

peripheral nerves

8C7Y Other specified primary disorders of muscles

8D8Z Disorders of autonomic nervous system, unspecified

(peripheral circulatory
BD40.0 Lower limb atherosclerosis
complications)

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TUC is:
BD4Z Chronic arterial occlusive disease, unspecified

EE80.1 Necrobiosis lipoidica

MC85 Gangrene

(other specified ME60.2 Ulcer of skin of uncertain nature, specified as

complications) lower limb

FA2Z Inflammatory arthropathies, unspecified

MG30.5Z Chronic neuropathic pain, unspecified

when reported as the cause of:

(coma) 5A41 Hypoglycaemia without associated diabetes

(ophthalmic complications) 9C81.Z Ocular motor nerve palsies, unspecified

9D90 Vision impairment including blindness

(neurological
8E7Y Other specified diseases of the nervous system
complications)

DA7Y Other specified diseases of the stomach or the

duodenum

(peripheral circulatory
complications)

(other specified 1A40 Gastroenteritis or colitis without specification of

complications) infectious agent

1G40-1G41 Sepsis

1C41 Bacterial infection of unspecified site

1F28 Dermatophytosis

1F2D Non-dermatophyte superficial dermatomycoses

1F23 Candidosis

3B20 Disseminated intravascular coagulation

5A41 Hypoglycaemia without associated diabetes

5C80.00 Primary hypercholesterolaemia

5C80.1 Hypertriglyceridaemia

5C80.2 Mixed hyperlipidaemia

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TUC is:
5C80.Z Hyperlipoproteinaemia, unspecified

5C76 Hyperkalaemia

5D2Z Metabolic disorders, unspecified

8A42.Y Other specified acute disseminated

encephalomyelitis

8A42.Z Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, unspecified

BA00.Z Essential hypertension, unspecified

BA01 Hypertensive heart disease

BA40-BA6Z Ischaemic heart diseases

BB40-BB4Z Acute or subacute endocarditis

BC0Z Heart valve diseases, unspecified

BC43.0Z Dilated cardiomyopathy, unspecified

BC43.Z Cardiomyopathy, unspecified

BC81.3 Atrial fibrillation

BC81.20 Cavotricuspid isthmus dependent macroreentry

tachycardia

BC81.2Z Macro reentrant atrial tachycardia, unspecified

BC60 Atrial premature depolarization

BC61 Junctional premature depolarization

BC70 Ventricular premature depolarization

BC71.1 Ventricular fibrillation

BC80.20 Sick sinus syndrome

BC9Y Other specified cardiac arrhythmia

BC9Z Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified

BD10-BD1Z Heart failure

BE2Z Diseases of the circulatory system, unspecified

8B00 Intracerebral haemorrhage

8B02 Nontraumatic subdural haemorrhage

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TUC is:
8B03 Nontraumatic epidural haemorrhage

8B0Z Intracranial haemorrhage, unspecified

8B11 Cerebral ischaemic stroke

8B20 Stroke not known if ischaemic or haemorrhagic

8B22.Y Other specified cerebrovascular disease

8B2Z Cerebrovascular diseases, unspecified

8B25.1 Late effects of intracerebral haemorrhage

8B25.3 Late effects of other nontraumatic intracranial

haemorrhage

8B25.0 Late effects of cerebral ischemic stroke

8B25.4 Late effects of stroke not known if ischaemic or

haemorrhagic

8B25 Late effects of cerebrovascular disease

8D40.1 Neuropathy due to nutritional deficiency

8D40.2 Myopathy due to nutritional deficiency

8D40.Y Other specified neurological disorders due to

nutrient deficiency

8D40.Z Neurological disorders due to nutrient deficiency,

unspecified

BD30.0 Acute upper limb arterial occlusion

BD30.20 Acute thromboembolic lower limb arterial

occlusion

BD30.0 Acute upper limb arterial occlusion

BD30.2 Acute lower limb arterial occlusion

BD70 Superficial thrombophlebitis

BD72 Venous thromboembolism

CA40.1 Viral pneumonia

CA40 Pneumonia

DA60-DA63.Z Ulcer of stomach or duodenum

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TUC is:
ME24.Y Other specified clinical manifestations of the
digestive system

1B70.3 Ascending bacterial lymphangitis

1B70.Y Bacterial cellulitis or lymphangitis due to other

specified bacterium

1B70.Z Bacterial cellulitis or lymphangitis due to

unspecified bacterium

EB21 Pyoderma gangrenosum

EA3Z Unspecified skin disorder attributable to viral

infection

EA89 Generalised eczematous dermatitis of unspecified

type

EH90 Pressure ulceration

FA26.2 Chondrocalcinosis

1B71 Necrotising fasciitis

GC08.Z Urinary tract infection, site and agent not specified

3.3 Functioning in ICD and joint use with ICF

Historically, the ICD has used certain disability concepts as common disease or
disorder entities, such as: Blindness, Deafness, Mental Retardation, Learning
Disability, or Paraplegia, as well as certain disability concepts for other purposes, such
as ‘disability as a sequela of injury’, and ‘limitation of activities due to disability’. The
ICF was developed after the publication of ICD–10. The ICD–11 has been created both
to share concepts and be used jointly with, the ICF. This partnership may assist with
the following tasks:

 evaluation for general medical practice (e.g. fitness for work)

 evaluation for social benefits (e.g. disability, pension)
 payment or reimbursement purposes
 needs assessment (e.g. for rehabilitation, occupational assistance, long term
care.)
 outcome evaluation of interventions
Signs and symptoms in the ICD are aligned with body functions in the ICF, and ‘factors
influencing health status’ in the ICD with contextual factors in the ICF. The items of the
functioning section of ICD are a subset of the entities contained in ICF.

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3.4 Revision major steps

The revision of ICD-11 has taken place in several phases.

First, a list of issues that were known from the use of ICD-10 and that could not be
solved in its classification structure was compiled and possible solutions were
formulated.

Second, input was received from many scientific groups in the key subject areas with a
focus on the clinical perspective.

Finally, centralised editing occurred, aimed to adjust imbalances in content generated

by multiple independently operating expert groups in the previous phase of the
revision, and to ensure the overall structure is consistent and practicable for users in
mortality and morbidity statistics. The ‘guiding principles’ were an essential tool
particularly in the last phase. The content, terminology and suggestions for specific
groupings by the scientific groups has been preserved, though the proposed structure
and location of the entities in the classification has undergone changes necessary to
the main uses of ICD. The multiple parenting preserved the visibility of the conditions in
the preferred location of the scientific groups. The final version also received input from
field testing, Member State comments, and ongoing submission and processing of
proposals.

3.5 General features of ICD–11

The main structural innovation of ICD–11 is that it is built on a Foundation Component
from which the tabular list can be derived. The international reference tabular list is the
statistical classification for morbidity and mortality. Due to the addition of a Foundation
Component, and the electronic design of ICD-11, some new terminology had to be
introduced that had not been used in prior versions of ICD. The table below provides
examples of this new terminology. You will find more detail about individual aspects in
other parts of this guide.

For more detail on the terminology of ICD-11, see Section [Link] Integrated use with
Terminologies.

3.6 Traditional Medicine conditions - Module

1 (TM1)
Traditional Medicine (TM) is an integral part of health services provided in many
countries. National authorities have not had proper methods, nationally or
internationally, to monitor its health impact over time and allocate proper resources.
International standardisation by including Traditional Medicine within the ICD allows for
measuring, counting, comparing, formulating questions and monitoring over time.

The development of the Supplementary Chapter Traditional Medicine Conditions,

Module 1 (TM1) is a result of requests to WHO from s everal member states to include
TM concepts in an international classification such as the ICD. Although countries such

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as China, Japan and Korea have developed their own country specific classifications,
there was no agreed international standard to allow collection of comparable data or as
a starting point for testing efficacy of interventions and monitoring their safety. TM
clinicians have been working 2005-2018 to integrate and standardise their terminology,
resulting in the current TM chapter.

A large percentage of the world’s population uses some form of Traditional Medicine.
However, standardised data and information on health status of these users remain
largely absent from national and international health data collections. The use of
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies has become a huge
industry and is expected to grow. As a result of this gap in information about TM and
the size of the industry, resources have been invested in the creation of a classification
tool to allow data to be collected and analysed.

ICD-11’s chapter on Traditional Medicine disorders and patterns is designed to be

integrated with coding of cases in conjunction with the Western Medicine concepts of
ICD Chapters 1-25. The TM1 chapter within ICD enables continuity and coordination of
care and promotes integrated people centred care for those accessing traditional,
complementary and integrative medicine as a means of primary health care. Primary
health care is the foundation of integrated service delivery, and the TM1 chapter within
ICD-11 allows for coordinating with other levels of services and provides better
measurement towards achieving universal health coverage.

The chapter will be used in ways appropriate to health care systems, clinical practice
and regulations in different countries, but always using standard terminology. It is
important to expose TM practitioners to the rigour of coding and collecting data for
reporting and for clinical exchange, as well as for research topics. Another vital
consideration is to allow collection of data relating to patient safety, so that
complications and interactions of TM with WM can be monitored. A standard
terminology is also necessary for reimbursement and casemix systems, for education
of TM practitioners, for inclusion in electronic record systems and last but not least, for
providing currently inaccessible morbidity information to national and international
organisations from countries where TM is practised and is an important part of health
service delivery.

As with other ICD chapters, the TM1 chapter is a tool for classifying, diagnosing,
counting, communicating and comparing TM conditions, it will also assist research and
evaluation to assess the safety and efficacy of TM. This chapter not judging TM
practice or the efficacy of any TM intervention.

3.5 General features of ICD–11

The main structural innovation of ICD–11 is that it is built on a Foundation Component
from which the tabular list can be derived. The international reference tabular list is the
statistical classification for morbidity and mortality. Due to the addition of a Foundation
Component, and the electronic design of ICD-11, some new terminology had to be
introduced that had not been used in prior versions of ICD. The table below provides
examples of this new terminology. You will find more detail about individual aspects in
other parts of this guide.

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For more detail on the terminology of ICD-11, see Section [Link] Integrated use with
Terminologies.

3.6 Traditional Medicine conditions - Module

1 (TM1)
Traditional Medicine (TM) is an integral part of health services provided in many
countries. National authorities have not had proper methods, nationally or
internationally, to monitor its health impact over time and allocate proper resources.
International standardisation by including Traditional Medicine within the ICD allows for
measuring, counting, comparing, formulating questions and monitoring over time.

The development of the Supplementary Chapter Traditional Medicine Conditions,

Module 1 (TM1) is a result of requests to WHO from s everal member states to include
TM concepts in an international classification such as the ICD. Although countries such
as China, Japan and Korea have developed their own country specific classifications,
there was no agreed international standard to allow collection of comparable data or as
a starting point for testing efficacy of interventions and monitoring their safety. TM
clinicians have been working 2005-2018 to integrate and standardise their terminology,
resulting in the current TM chapter.

A large percentage of the world’s population uses some form of Traditional Medicine.
However, standardised data and information on health status of these users remain
largely absent from national and international health data collections. The use of
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies has become a huge
industry and is expected to grow. As a result of this gap in information about TM and
the size of the industry, resources have been invested in the creation of a classification
tool to allow data to be collected and analysed.

ICD-11’s chapter on Traditional Medicine disorders and patterns is designed to be

integrated with coding of cases in conjunction with the Western Medicine concepts of
ICD Chapters 1-25. The TM1 chapter within ICD enables continuity and coordination of
care and promotes integrated people centred care for those accessing traditional,
complementary and integrative medicine as a means of primary health care. Primary
health care is the foundation of integrated service delivery, and the TM1 chapter within
ICD-11 allows for coordinating with other levels of services and provides better
measurement towards achieving universal health coverage.

The chapter will be used in ways appropriate to health care systems, clinical practice
and regulations in different countries, but always using standard terminology. It is
important to expose TM practitioners to the rigour of coding and collecting data for
reporting and for clinical exchange, as well as for research topics. Another vital
consideration is to allow collection of data relating to patient safety, so that
complications and interactions of TM with WM can be monitored. A standard
terminology is also necessary for reimbursement and casemix systems, for education
of TM practitioners, for inclusion in electronic record systems and last but not least, for
providing currently inaccessible morbidity information to national and international
organisations from countries where TM is practised and is an important part of health
service delivery.

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As with other ICD chapters, the TM1 chapter is a tool for classifying, diagnosing,
counting, communicating and comparing TM conditions, it will also assist research and
evaluation to assess the safety and efficacy of TM. This chapter not judging TM
practice or the efficacy of any TM intervention.

3.7 Preparations for the Eleventh Revision

By 2003, it was becoming clear to the WHO and the Collaborating Centres that a
further revision of the ICD could not be long delayed. The extent to which ICD updating
could encapsulate emerging developments was limited by the structure of ICD–10, and
some issues needed extended development and discussion with expert groups. A
special meeting of Collaborating Centres in Helsinki in 2004 discussed the need for a
revision and issues to be addressed as part of the revision process. The 2004 WHO-
FIC meeting subsequently adopted a revision process work-plan which was
progressively developed at ensuing meetings.

In 2007, the WHO formally launched the revision process. Oversight has been provided
through a broad-based Revision Steering Group. Technical work has been undertaken
by a series of Technical Advisory Groups, with cross-cutting groups examining
mortality, morbidity and quality and safety issues. For the first time, a chapter on
description of diseases and patterns of diseases from a Traditional medicine standpoint
has been included.

A Content Model, including a range of components for each ICD entity has been
developed, giving a rich Foundation for the ICD. Other classifications and terminologies
are linked or included where possible to ensure ICD is aligned with them, and items
used in other members of the WHO Family of Classifications have been aligned
wherever possible. The more traditional statistical classification for mortality and
morbidity is obtained from the Foundation component of ICD–11 as a tabular list.
Extension codes are used to limit content volume but still allow detailed classification of
disease entities.

3.7.1 Chapter 01 – Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11

in Chapter 01
The chapter includes more infectious items then in the past. Also, influenza has been
moved from the respiratory to the infectious diseases chapter. Tuberculosis, Leprosy
have been grouped under ‘mycoplasms’, because identification, course, and treatment
are similar. Prion diseases have been moved to the Nervous system.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

A00-A09 Intestinal infectious diseases Gastroenteritis or colitis of infectious origin

A15-A19 Tuberculosis Part of the grouping - Mycobacterial diseases

A20-28 Certain zoonotic bacterial

Certain zoonotic bacterial diseases
diseases

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

A30-A49 Other bacterial diseases Other bacterial diseases

A50-A64 Infections with a predominantly

Predominantly sexually transmitted infections
sexual mode of transmission

Part of the grouping - Other specified

A65-A69 Other spirochaetal diseases
bacterial diseases

A70-A74 Other diseases caused by Part of the grouping – Other bacterial

chlamydiae diseases

Part of the grouping – Other bacterial

A75-A79 Rickettsioses
diseases

A80-A89 Viral infections of the central

Viral infections of the central nervous system
nervous system

Split into two groups - Other arthropod-borne

A92-A99 Arthropod-borne viral fevers
viral fevers and Certain zoonotic viral
and viral haemorrhagic fevers
diseases

B00-B09 Viral infections characterized Viral infections characterised by skin or

by skin and mucous membrane lesions mucous membrane lesions

B15-B19 Viral hepatitis Viral hepatitis

B20-B24 Human immunodeficiency

Human immunodeficiency virus disease
virus [HIV] disease

B25-B34 Other viral diseases Certain other viral diseases

B35-B49 Mycoses Mycoses

B50-B64 Protozoal diseases Part of the grouping - Parasitic diseases

B65-B83 Helminthiases Part of the grouping - Parasitic diseases

B85-B89 Pediculosis, acariasis and

Part of the grouping - Parasitic diseases
other infestations

B90-B94 Sequelae of infectious and

Sequelae of infectious diseases
parasitic diseases

B95-B98 Bacterial, viral and other

Now part of extension codes for organisms
infectious agents

B99-B99 Other infectious diseases Certain other disorders of infectious origin

3.7.2 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 02

The most significant change to the hierarchy of Chapter 02 is the inclusion of certain
morphology types within the chapter (previously found in ICD–10, Appendix A). There
are now pre-coordinated codes consisting of both morphology and site. Other types of
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morphology and greater site specificity not included in Chapter 02 are found in the
Chapter X, Extension codes, and can be used for postcoordination.

Other changes include: grouping together all neoplasms of brain and central nervous
system regardless of behaviour; grouping together all haematopoietic and lymphoid
tissues; and the addition of the new group Malignant mesenchymal neoplasms. The
previous ICD–10 group Neoplasms of uncertain or unknown behaviour has been split
into two separate groups - Neoplasms of uncertain behaviour and Neoplasms of
unknown behaviour.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
C00-C97 Malignant
Neoplasms of brain or central nervous system
neoplasms

Neoplasms of haematopoietic or lymphoid tissues

Malignant neoplasms, except of lymphoid,

haematopoietic, central nervous system or related
tissues

In situ neoplasms, except of lymphoid, haematopoietic,

D00-D09 In situ neoplasms
central nervous system or related tissues

Benign neoplasms, except of lymphoid, haematopoietic,

D10-D36 Benign neoplasms
central nervous system or related tissues

D37-D48 Neoplasms of Neoplasms of uncertain behaviour, except of lymphoid,

uncertain or unknown haematopoietic, central nervous system or related
behaviour tissues

Neoplasms of unknown behaviour, except of lymphoid,

haematopoietic, central nervous system or related
tissues

3.7.3 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 03

ICD–10, Chapter 03 Disease of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain
disorders involving the immune mechanism has been split into two chapters: one for
diseases of blood or blood-forming organs (Ch. 03) and the other for disorders of the
immune system (Ch. 04). In ICD-10 there were five major sections for blood disorders
which have now been reclassified into three sections in ICD-11.

A broad grouping Anaemias and other erythrocyte disorders now contains, Nutritional
anaemias, Haemolytic anaemias and Aplastic and other anaemias with subdivisions for
acquired and congenital.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
D50-D53 Nutritional Part of the grouping - Anaemias and other erythrocyte
anaemias disorders

D55-D59 Haemolytic Part of the grouping - Anaemias and other erythrocyte

anaemias disorders

D60-D64 Aplastic and other Part of the grouping - Anaemias and other erythrocyte
anaemias disorders

D65-D69 Coagulation
Coagulation defects, purpura and other haemorrhagic and
defects, purpura and other
related conditions
haemorrhagic conditions

Concepts redistributed to one of the following groupings:

D70-D77 Other diseases of
Anaemias and other erythrocyte disorders Coagulation
blood and blood-forming
defects, purpura and other haemorrhagic and related
organs
conditions or Diseases of spleen

D80-D89 Certain disorders

involving the immune Move to Chapter 04 ‘Diseases of the immune system’
mechanism

3.7.4 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 04

ICD–10, Chapter 03 Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain
disorders involving the immune mechanism has been split into two chapters: one for
diseases of blood or blood-forming organs (Ch. 03) and the other for disorders of the
immune system (Ch. 04). This new chapter (Ch 04) was created to better capture the
complexity of the disease processes of the immune system.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

D80-D89 Certain disorders involving the
Primary immunodeficiencies
immune mechanism

Acquired immunodeficiencies

Acquired immunodeficiencies

Autoinflammatory disorders

Allergic or hypersensitivity conditions

Immune system disorders involving white

cell lineages

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

Certain disorders involving the immune
system

Diseases of thymus

3.7.5 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 05

Changes and additions have been made to Diabetes mellitus with the inclusion of
categories for Intermediate hyperglycaemia (including Impaired glucose regulation) and
Insulin-resistance syndromes. Nutritional disorders section incorporates current
terminology and contains a detailed classification for vitamin and mineral deficiencies
as well as for obesity. The Metabolic disorders section also includes more detail and
the organisation of the various types of metabolic disorders has been improved.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure in

Chapter 5

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

Disorders of the thyroid gland or thyroid hormones
E00-E07 Disorders of thyroid system. The structure for this section has not changed
gland but has been revised to better reflect current disease
processes.

Diabetes mellitus (Specifies the ‘type’ of diabetes

mellitus i.e. Type 1, Type 2, other and unspecified.
E10-E14 Diabetes mellitus
‘Diabetic’ complications are primarily parented to their
respective body system chapter).

E15-E16 Other disorders of

Other disorders of glucose regulation or pancreatic
glucose regulation and
internal secretion – has remained unchanged.
pancreatic internal secretion

This block has been unbundled and the sections

E20-E35 Disorders of other
renamed to better reflect the conditions classified
endocrine glands
within each entity:

Disorders of the parathyroid and parathyroid hormone

system

Disorders of the pituitary hormone system

Disorders of the adrenal glands and adrenal hormone

system

Disorders of the gonadal hormone system

Certain disorders of puberty

Polyglandular dysfunction

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and certain
specified lipidaemias

Undernutrition - Two new subsections have been

added for Undernutrition based on anthropometric or
E40-E46 Malnutrition
clinical criteria and Undernutrition due to specific
nutrient deficiencies

E50-E64 Other nutritional

Part of the grouping - Undernutrition
deficiencies

E65-E68 Obesity and other

Overweight, obesity or specific nutrient excesses
hyperalimentation

Metabolic disorders with subsections based on

E70-E90 Metabolic disorders
aetiology

3.7.6 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 06

Changes to this chapter include restructuring of the hierarchy, the inclusion of more
current terminology, and specific groupings for single episodes of harmful use, harmful
pattern of use, dependence, intoxication, and withdrawal by substance type.

In the ICD–10, the numbers of large groupings, or ‘blocks’, of disorders was artificially
constrained by the decimal coding system used in the classification, such that it was
only possible to have a maximum of ten major groupings of disorders within the mental
and behavioural disorder chapter (corresponding to the digits 0 to 9). This meant that
some groupings were created that were not based on clinical utility or scientific
evidence. In the ICD–10, for example, one block (F30-F39) is devoted to Mood
(affective) disorders, while Anxiety disorders represent only a portion of a broad and
heterogeneous block (F40- F49) called ‘Neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform
disorders’. Another block ? ‘Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological
disturbances and physical factors’ ? unites disorders that are unrelated in terms of
clinical symptoms and symptomatology except that they have something to do with the
body.

Given the constrained structural parameters of the ICD–10, the developers of the
classification provided a reasonable set of diagnostic groupings. However, the more
flexible structural characteristics of ICD–11 make it possible to incorporate key features
based on available scientific evidence and current practice for more optimal nosology.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

F00-F09 Organic, including
Neurocognitive disorders
symptomatic, mental disorders

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

F10-F19 Mental and
Part of the grouping - Disorders due to substance use
behavioural disorders due to
or addictive behaviours
psychoactive substance use

F20-F29 Schizophrenia,
schizotypal and delusional Schizophrenia or other primary psychotic disorders
disorders

F30-F39 Mood (affective)

Mood disorders
disorders

F40-F48 Neurotic, stress-

related and somatoform Anxiety or fear-related disorders
disorders

F50-F59 Behavioural Redistributed between Feeding or eating disorders,

syndromes associated with Mental or behavioural disorders associated with
physiological disturbances and pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium and new
physical factors chapters for Sleep disorders and Sexual health

F60-F69 Disorders of adult

Personality disorders and related traits
personality and behaviour

F70-F79 Mental retardation Part of the grouping - Neurodevelopmental disorders

F80-F89 Disorders of
Part of the grouping - Neurodevelopmental disorders
psychological development

F90-F98 Behavioural and

emotional disorders with onset
Part of the grouping - Neurodevelopmental disorders
usually occurring in childhood
and adolescence

F99-F99 Unspecified mental

Unspecified residual for the chapter
disorder
3.7.7 Chapter 07 is a new addition to ICD–11 and was not found in past editions

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-11 equivalent
ICD-10 previous location
structure
Codes from Mental Health and Nervous system
Insomnia disorders
chapters

Concept not in ICD-10 Sleep-related movement disorders

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ICD-11 equivalent
ICD-10 previous location
structure
Codes from Mental Health and Nervous system
Hypersomnolence disorders
chapters

Codes from Neurology and Endocrine chapters Sleep-related breathing disorders

Codes from Mental health chapter Parasomnia disorders

Disorders of the sleep-wake

Codes from Neurology chapter
schedule

Codes from Neurology chapter Certain specified sleep disorders

3.7.8 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 08

There has been a major restructuring and movement of previous ICD–10 concepts in
this chapter. A number of new concepts have also been added. Cerebrovascular
diseases have been moved to the Neurology chapter and multiply parented to the
Circulatory chapter. Transient Ischaemic attack (TIA) is now also located under
Cerebrovascular diseases and appears in Diseases of the nervous system.

ICD–11 sees a major overhaul in the organisation of the blocks which make up the
neurology chapter. The restrictive decimal coding system of the ICD–10, with its
capacity to contain only 11 blocks of disorders per chapter, resulted in blocks
containing miscellaneous neurological entities which did not logically fit together, such
as the episodic and paroxysmal disorders block, containing headache disorders,
epilepsy, transient ischaemic attacks and sleep disorders. The ICD–11 now positions
headache disorders, epilepsy and cerebrovascular disorders at block level, and sleep
disorders at chapter level (Chapter 07).

Not only has the structure of the neurological chapter changed, but the approach to
classification also integrates current clinical practice and advancements in the
understanding of neurological diseases. In the time since the ICD–10 was published,
enormous progress in the fields of genetics, molecular biology and medical
technologies have been made. An increase in the number of codes is inevitable when
one reflects on the recent knowledge gain in neurology, so a balance between
comprehensiveness, clinical utility and maintaining a public health approach is the aim.
The working groups tackled this issue by considering the more common disorders to
appear in the chapter, with less common aetiological variations of these disorders
being subject to a ‘double coding’ technique. One major change which illustrates the
advancement of knowledge is the addition of a block entitled ‘Paraneoplastic and
autoimmune disorders of the nervous system’. This block contains immune-mediated
neurological diseases, a field in which knowledge has exploded in recent years. A
second example of how the new version reflects molecular biological advancement is
through awarding Prion diseases block status despite their rarity. Previously, they
featured as part of the infections of the central nervous system block, but research
interest after the major public health issue in Europe in the 1990s has led to new
variants of prion diseases being discovered.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
G00-G09 Inflammatory
This section is now located in Chapter 1 in a new block
diseases of the nervous
called Non-viral infections of the central nervous system
system

G10-G14 Systemic
atrophies primarily Split between the Movement disorders and Motor neuron
affecting the central disease and related disorders
nervous system

G20-G26 Extrapyramidal
Movement disorders
and movement disorders

G30-G32 Other
degenerative diseases of Neurocognitive disorders
the nervous system

Epilepsy and seizures, Headache disorders and

G40-G47 Episodic and
cerebrovascular blocks. Sleep disorders are now a stand-
paroxysmal disorders
alone chapter (Ch. 07)

G50-G59 Nerve, nerve

Disorders of nerve root, plexus and peripheral nerves
root and plexus disorders

G70-G73 Diseases of
myoneural junction and Diseases of neuromuscular junction and muscle
muscle

Other disorders of the nervous system - the following have

G90-G99 Other disorders been moved out to their own grouping: Diseases of the
of the nervous system autonomic nervous system, Disorders of cerebrospinal fluid
pressure and flow, Spinal cord disorders excluding trauma

A81 Atypical virus

infections of central Prion diseases
nervous system

3.7.9 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter 09

There have been major changes to the structure and hierarchy of this chapter for ICD–
11. The aetiology/manifestation convention (dagger/asterisk) of ICD–10 has not been
kept in ICD–11.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

H00-H06 Disorders of eyelid,
Disorders of the ocular adnexa or orbit
lacrimal system and orbit

H10-H13 Disorders of conjunctiva Disorders of conjunctiva

Redistributed between the groupings Disorders of

H15-H22 Disorders of sclera,
the eyeball – anterior segment and Disorders of the
cornea, iris and ciliary body
eyeball – posterior segment

H25-H28 Disorders of lens Disorders of lens

H30-H36 Disorders of choroid and Separate categories under Disorders of the eyeball
retina – posterior segment

H40-H42 Glaucoma Glaucoma or glaucoma suspect

Redistributed between the groupings Disorders of

H43-H45 Disorders of vitreous the eyeball –posterior segment and Disorders of
body and globe the eyeball affecting both anterior and posterior
segments

H46-H48 Disorders of optic nerve

Disorders of the visual pathways or centres
and visual pathway

H49-H52 Disorders of ocular Redistributed between the groupings Strabismus or

muscles, binocular movement, ocular motility and Disorders of refraction or
accommodation and refraction accommodation

H53-H54 Visual disturbances and

Visual impairment
blindness

Redistributed between the groupings Nystagmus

H55-H59 Other disorders of eye
and Postprocedural disorders of eye or ocular
and adnexa
adnexa

3.7.10 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

10
This chapter has retained a similar structure as in ICD–10, with only minor changes.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
H60-H62 Diseases of
Diseases of external ear
external ear

H65-H75 Diseases of
middle ear and Diseases of middle ear or mastoid
mastoid

H80-H83 Diseases of
Diseases of inner ear
inner ear

Redistributed into the groupings Disorders with hearing

H90-H95 Other
impairment, Disorders of ear, not elsewhere classified and
disorders of ear
Postprocedural disorders of ear or mastoid process

3.7.11 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

11
There has been some restructuring and regrouping throughout this chapter, with new
concepts based on medical advancements over the last 20 years added. Medical
terminology has been updated. The sections on Hypertension and Heart valve
diseases have been expanded. Heart valve diseases have moved from a classification
based on aetiology (rheumatic/non-rheumatic) followed by valve type and disease
physiology; to a hierarchy led by valve type, then disease physiology, followed by
aetiology, in keeping with current clinical practice. Non-rheumatic valve disease has
therefore been moved from ‘Other forms of heart disease’ to the heart valve disease
section. Acute rheumatic fever has been moved to Chapter 1.

Cerebrovascular diseases have been moved to the Neurology Chapter (08) as their
primary parent with the Circulatory Chapter being a secondary parent.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure in

Chapter 11

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
I00-I02 Acute rheumatic
Moved to Chapter 01 Infectious diseases
fever

Heart valve diseases - Change in hierarchy for the

I05-I09 Chronic rheumatic
classification of heart valve disorders to heart valve type
heart diseases
and then by aetiology

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ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
Hypertensive diseases - Remains relatively the same with
I10–I15 Hypertensive
expansion of some categories, essential hypertension now
diseases
includes subcategories for diastolic/systolic hypertension

Ischaemic heart diseases - Change in terminology for AMI

to reflect STEMI/NSTEMI only. Inclusion of timeframe for
I20–I25 Ischaemic heart old AMI. Expansion of complications following and AMI.
diseases New section for ‘Diseases of coronary artery’ to include
coronary atherosclerosis, coronary artery aneurysm,
dissection, fistula

Pulmonary heart disease or diseases of pulmonary

I26–I28 Pulmonary heart
circulation - Expansion of some categories (e.g. pulmonary
disease and diseases of
hypertension) to include new concepts, particularly
pulmonary circulation
pulmonary hypertension.

This block category title no longer exists in ICD-11 and the

I30–I52 Other forms of concepts within have been made distinct entities and
heart disease expanded to include new terminology and disease
processes

I60–I69 Cerebrovascular
Reclassified to Chapter 08 Diseases of the nervous system
diseases

I70–I79 Diseases of
Diseases of capillaries has been moved into Diseases of
arteries, arterioles and
skin
capillaries

This section has been separated into two main blocks:

I80–I89 Diseases of veins, Diseases of veins and Disorders of lymphatic vessels and
lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. Oesophageal varices and Haemorrhoids
lymph nodes, not have been reclassified to Chapter 13 Diseases of the
elsewhere classified digestive system - Vascular disorders of the oesophagus
and Vascular disease of anus and anal canal, respectively

I95–I99 Other and Marked expansion of the postprocedural disorders section

unspecified disorders of with new codes for postprocedural disorders following
the circulatory system repair of congenital anomalies.

3.7.12 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

12
There has been some restructuring and regrouping of this chapter, with new concepts
added and the inclusion of updated and current terminology.

 A new section, Inhalational, occupational and environmental lung disease has

been added to improve the classification of respiratory disorders according to
their aetiology.
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 Sleep disorders of breathing and respiratory control have been moved into the
new chapter of Sleep disorders (Chapter 7) and secondarily parented to the
Respiratory Chapter.
 Cystic fibrosis has been moved to the Respiratory Chapter and secondarily
parented to Chapter 05 Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure in
Chapter 12

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
J00-J06 Acute upper Upper respiratory tract disorders section, Infectious diseases
respiratory infections by infectious agent

J09-J18 Influenza and

Lung infections
pneumonia

J20-J22 Other acute

lower respiratory Combined into the grouping - Lung infections
infections

J30-J39 Other diseases

of upper respiratory Combined into the grouping - Upper respiratory tract disorders
tract

J40-J47 Chronic lower

Certain lower respiratory tract diseases
respiratory diseases

J60-J70 Lung diseases

Lung diseases due to external agents
due to external agents

J80-J84 Other
respiratory diseases
Respiratory diseases principally affecting the lung interstitium
principally affecting the
interstitium

J85-J86 Suppurative
and necrotic conditions Combined into the grouping - Lung infections
of lower respiratory tract

J90-J94 Other diseases

Pleural, diaphragm and mediastinal disorders
of pleura

Certain diseases of the respiratory system Postprocedural

J95-J99 Other diseases
respiratory disorders have been moved to a grouping of their
of the respiratory
own. Mediastinal and diaphragm disorders were moved to the
system
section for Pleural, diaphragm and mediastinal disorders

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3.7.13 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

13
There has been a major restructuring and change of the previous ICD-10 concepts in
this chapter. Detailed anatomical groups were added to the hierarchy, such as
‘Diseases of duodenum’, ‘Diseases of the anal canal’ or ‘Diseases of the pancreas’.
Independent categories for functional gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory
bowel diseases have also been included to cover broad anatomical sites. Additional
dimensions are available from the clinical findings section in Chapter 21 and Chapter X
Extension Codes for use in postcoordination. For example, with and without
haemorrhage, with and without obstruction, with and without ascites, laterality and
greater site specificity, etc.

Although ICD-10 included diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws, the
corresponding section of Chapter 13 in ICD-11 has been improved in structure and
content to include diseases and disorders of the orofacial complex.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
K00-K14 Diseases of oral
cavity, salivary glands and Diseases or disorders of orofacial complex
jaws

K20-K31 Diseases of
Now in two groups – Diseases of oesophagus and
oesophagus, stomach and
Diseases of the stomach or the duodenum
duodenum

K35-K38 Diseases of
Diseases of appendix
appendix

K40-K46 Hernia Hernia

K50-K52 Noninfective Now in two groups – Gastritis, under Diseases of

enteritis and colitis stomach and Certain noninfectious colitis or proctitis

K55-K64 Other diseases of Redistributed to various new groups based on

intestines anatomical sites

K65-K67 Diseases of
Diseases of peritoneum
peritoneum

K70-K77 Diseases of liver Diseases of liver

K80-K87 Disorders of
Now in two groups – Diseases of gallbladder or biliary
gallbladder, biliary tract and
tract and Diseases of pancreas
pancreas

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ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
Redistributed to various groups including Postprocedural
K90-K93 Other diseases of
disorders of digestive system and Clinical findings in the
the digestive system
digestive system

3.7.14 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

14
Chapter 14 has undergone major restructuring, with the addition of more detailed
entities. The terminology has been updated to be more current. Detail has come from
the fusion of the American, British and German dermatological terminologies.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

L00-L08 Infections of the skin Certain skin disorders attributable to infection or
and subcutaneous tissue infestation

Renamed Immunobullous diseases of the skin and

L10-L14 Bullous disorders
included under inflammatory dermatoses

L20-L30 Dermatitis and eczema Dermatitis and eczema

L40-L45 Papulosquamous Papulosquamous dermatoses (included under

disorders inflammatory dermatoses)

Part of groupings – Urticaria, angioedema and other

L50-L54 Urticaria and erythema urticarial disorders and Inflammatory erythemas and
other reactive inflammatory dermatoses

L55-L69 Radiation-related
disorders of the skin and Dermatoses provoked by light or UV radiation
subcutaneous tissue

L60-L75 Disorders of skin Disorders of the epidermis and epidermal

appendages appendages

L80-L99 Other disorders of the Redistributed to various groups throughout the

skin and subcutaneous tissue restructured Skin chapter

3.7.15 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

15
The blocks in this chapter have been reordered, and a new block Auto-inflammatory
syndromes has been added to the Immune Chapter and secondarily parented to here.
The area of spinal conditions has been restructured and renamed to Conditions
associated with the spine.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
M00-M25 Arthropathies Arthropathies

M30-M36 Systemic
Moved to Chapter 4 ‘Diseases of the immune system’
connective tissue disorders

M40-M54 Dorsopathies Conditions associated with the spine

M60-M79 Soft tissue

Soft tissue disorders
disorders

M80-M94 Osteopathies
Osteopathies or chondropathies
and chondropathies

Redistributed to various groupings including Certain

M95-M99 Other disorders specified acquired deformities of musculoskeletal system
of the musculoskeletal and or connective tissue, not elsewhere classified and
connective tissue Postprocedural musculoskeletal disorders, not elsewhere
classified

3.7.16 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

16
Chapter 16 has been reordered to distinguish diseases of the female genital system,
the male genital system, and the urinary system. There is more specificity within the
section on the female genital system reflecting current scientific understanding. The
hierarchy is now divided into non-inflammatory disorders and inflammatory disorders,
which are further divided by anatomical groupings. These groupings are in an order
followed by gynaecological and obstetric examinations i.e. from external to internal
genitalia. Neoplasms of the urinary system are primarily located in Chapter 02
Neoplasms, Structural developmental anomalies of the urinary system are primarily
located in Chapter 20 and Symptoms, signs or clinical findings involving the urinary
system are primarily located in Chapter 21.

All diseases relating to the kidney are now classified under the main category for
‘Diseases of the urinary system’. Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease now
incorporates the currently used staging classification as proposed by Kidney Disease |
Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

The classification of Glomerular diseases has been restructured and is now divided into
clinical features/syndromes. A new block has been added for Cystic and dysplastic
kidney disease, originally, classified in ICD-10 to Chapter 17 Congenital malformations,
deformations and chromosomal abnormalities, with relevant entities grouped together
and based on the 2015 KDIGO guidelines.

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Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
Glomerular diseases - Classified to Diseases of the urinary
system. This section is now classified according to clinical
features or syndromes. Still includes: Nephritic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome Isolated proteinuria and albuminuria. The
N00-N08 Glomerular subdivisions describing morphology typically determined by
diseases biopsy have been moved to Chapter 21 under Clinical findings
of the urinary system. Electron microscopy and
immunofluorescence findings subdivisions have been removed
from proteinuria with morphological lesion. This is now
classified to Isolated proteinuria and albuminuria.

Renal-tubulo-interstitial diseases - Classified to Diseases of the

N10-N16 Renal-tubulo- urinary system. Section remains relatively the same. Tubular
interstitial diseases and cortical necrosis has been unbundled from acute renal
failure to be a distinct codable entity classified to this section.

Kidney failure - Classified to Diseases of the urinary system.

Acute renal failure is no longer a bundled concept which
N17-N19 Renal failure
previously identified the acute kidney damage i.e. acute tubular
necrosis.

Urolithiasis - Classified to Diseases of the urinary system.

Subdivided into upper urinary tract (includes kidney and ureter)
N20- N23 Urolithiasis and lower urinary tract (includes bladder and urethra). Renal
colic has been reclassified to Chapter 20 Symptoms, signs and
clinical findings involving the urinary system

Certain specified disorders of kidney or ureter - Classified to

N25-N29 Other Diseases of the urinary system. Reclassification of disorders
disorders of kidney and relating to the size of the kidney to Chapter 21 Symptoms,
ureter signs or clinical findings involving the urinary system -
Macroscopic changes of size of the kidney

N30-N39 Other
Certain specified diseases of urinary system – remains similar
diseases of urinary
to ICD-10
system

N40-N51 Diseases of
Diseases of male genital organs– remains similar to ICD-10
male genital organs

N60-N64 Disorders of
Disorders of breast– remains similar to ICD-10
breast

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ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
N70-N77 Inflammatory
Inflammatory disorders of the female genital tract - Classified
diseases of female
to Diseases of the female genital system.
pelvic organs

N80-N98
Noninflammatory Noninflammatory disorders of female genital tract – Classified
disorders of female to Diseases of the female genital system
genital tract

N99 Other disorders of Other disorders of the genitourinary system – Postprocedural

the genitourinary disorders of the genitourinary system has been moved out of
system this section to be a grouping of its own
3.7.17 Chapter 17 is a new addition to ICD–11 and was not found in past editions
Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-11
ICD-10 previous location equivalent
structure

Codes from Mental Health category F52 Sexual dysfunction, not Sexual
caused by organic disorder or disease dysfunctions

Codes from Mental Health category F52 Sexual dysfunction, not

caused by organic disorder or disease and Genitourinary category Sexual pain
N94 Pain and other conditions associated with female genital organs disorders
and menstrual cycle

Gender
Codes from Mental Health category F64 Gender identity disorders
incongruence

3.7.18 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

18
The chapter has been reordered but content remains similar to that in ICD–10. There
have been some changes and additions made to the sections Maternal care related to
the foetus and amniotic cavity and possible delivery problems and Complications of
labour and delivery. A new section Obstetric haemorrhage has been added to enable
all types of haemorrhage to be grouped together.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

O00-O08 Pregnancy with abortive outcome Abortive outcome of pregnancy

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

O10-O16 Oedema, proteinuria and Oedema, proteinuria, or hypertensive
hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, disorders in pregnancy, childbirth, or the
childbirth and the puerperium puerperium

O20-O29 Other maternal disorders Certain specified maternal disorders

predominantly related to pregnancy predominantly related to pregnancy

O30-O48 Maternal care related to the foetus Maternal care related to the foetus,
and amniotic cavity and possible delivery amniotic cavity or possible delivery
problems problems

O60-O75 Complications of labour and

Complications of labour or delivery
delivery

O80-O84 Delivery Delivery

O85-O92 Complications predominantly Complications predominantly related to

related to the puerperium the puerperium

O94-O99 Other obstetric conditions, not Certain obstetric conditions, not

elsewhere classified elsewhere classified

3.7.19 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

19
There has been some reordering of this chapter but it remains similar to that in ICD–10.
There is new grouping for Neurological disorders specific to the perinatal or neonatal
period and an expansion of codes for gestational age of the newborn.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

P00-P04 Foetus and newborn
affected by maternal factors and foetus or newborn affected by maternal factors or by
by complications of pregnancy, complications of pregnancy, labour or delivery
labour and delivery

P05-P08 Disorders related to

Disorders of newborn related to length of gestation
length of gestation and fetal
or fetal growth
growth

P10-P15 Birth trauma Birth injury

P20-P29 Respiratory and Split into two groups: Respiratory disorders specific
cardiovascular disorders specific to the perinatal or neonatal period; Cardiovascular
to the perinatal period disorders present in the perinatal or neonatal period

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

P35-P39 Infections specific to the
Infections of the foetus or newborn
perinatal period

P50-P61 Haemorrhagic and

Haemorrhagic or haematological disorders of foetus
haematological disorders of
or newborn
foetus and newborn

P70-P74 Transitory endocrine

Transitory endocrine or metabolic disorders specific
and metabolic disorders specific
to foetus or newborn
to foetus and newborn

P75-P78 Digestive system

Digestive system disorders of foetus or newborn
disorders of foetus and newborn

P80-P83 Conditions involving the Split into two groups: Disorders involving the
integument and temperature integument of foetus or newborn; Disturbances of
regulation of foetus and newborn temperature regulation of newborn

Certain disorders originating in the perinatal period –

Block 91 other disturbances of cerebral status of
P90-P96 other disorders
newborn has been moved into a new grouping
originating in the perinatal period
Neurological disorders specific to the perinatal or
neonatal period

3.7.20 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

20
This chapter has undergone major restructuring including a title change from
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities to
Developmental anomalies. All genetic syndromes without structural developmental
anomalies have been reallocated to appropriate chapters of the ICD, according to the
affected body system(s).

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 previous
ICD-11 equivalent structure
location
Q00-Q07 Congenital Structural developmental anomalies of the nervous
malformations of the system - A grouping under Structural developmental
nervous system anomalies primarily affecting one body system

Q10-Q18 Congenital Split into four separate groups under Structural

malformations of eye, ear, developmental anomalies primarily affecting one body
face and neck system:

Structural developmental anomalies of the eye, eyelid or

lacrimal apparatus

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ICD-10 previous
ICD-11 equivalent structure
location
Structural developmental anomalies of the ear

Structural developmental anomalies of the face, mouth or

teeth

Structural developmental anomalies of the neck

Q20-Q28 Congenital Structural developmental anomalies of the circulatory

malformations of the system - A grouping under Structural developmental
circulatory system anomalies primarily affecting one body system

Q30-Q34 Congenital Structural developmental anomalies of the respiratory

malformations of the system - A grouping under Structural developmental
respiratory system anomalies primarily affecting one body system

Clefts of lip, alveolus or palate is a subsection in the

Q35-Q37 Cleft lip and cleft
grouping Structural developmental anomalies of the face,
palate
mouth or teeth

Q38-Q45 Other congenital Structural developmental anomalies of the digestive tract

malformations of the - A grouping under Structural developmental anomalies
digestive system primarily affecting one body system

Split into two separate groups under Structural

Q50-Q56 Congenital developmental anomalies primarily affecting one body
malformations of genital system: Structural developmental anomalies of the
organs female genital system; Structural developmental
anomalies of the male genital system

Q60-Q64 Congenital Structural developmental anomalies of the urinary system

malformations of the urinary - A grouping under Structural developmental anomalies
system primarily affecting one body system

Q65-Q79 Congenital
malformations and
Structural developmental anomalies of the skeleton
deformations of the
musculoskeletal system

Q80-Q89 Other congenital Redistributed to various groupings within the new

malformations structure of the chapter

Q90-Q99 Chromosomal
abnormalities, not elsewhere Chromosomal anomalies, excluding gene mutations
classified

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3.7.21 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

21
This chapter has undergone major restructuring with the high level hierarchy now in
line with the ICD chapters. Certain clinical forms previously located in other chapters as
asterisk codes are now located here. A new category has been added for Findings of
microorganism resistant to antimicrobial drugs.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

R00-R09 Symptoms and signs Split into two groupings: Symptoms, signs or clinical
involving the circulatory and findings of the circulatory system; Symptoms, signs or
respiratory systems clinical findings of the respiratory system

R10-R19 Symptoms and signs

Symptoms, signs or clinical findings of the digestive
involving the digestive system
system or abdomen
and abdomen

R20-R23 Symptoms and signs Split into two groupings: Symptoms, signs or clinical
involving the skin and findings of the nervous system; Symptoms, signs or
subcutaneous tissue clinical findings of the musculoskeletal system

Symptoms, signs or clinical findings of the

R30-R39 Symptoms and signs
genitourinary system - part of the grouping Symptoms,
involving the urinary system
signs or clinical findings of the genitourinary system

R40-R46 Symptoms and signs

Reorganised into various subsections under Mental or
involving cognition, perception,
behavioural symptoms, signs or clinical findings
emotional state and behaviour

R47-R49 Symptoms and signs Symptoms, signs or clinical findings of speech or

involving speech and voice voice

R50-R69 General symptoms

General symptoms, signs or clinical findings
and signs

R70-R79 Abnormal findings on Included in the grouping Symptoms, signs or clinical

examination of blood, without findings of blood, blood-forming organs or the immune
diagnosis system

R80-R82 Abnormal findings on Clinical findings on examination of urine, without

examination of urine, without diagnosis under the grouping Symptoms, signs or
diagnosis clinical findings involving the urinary system

R83-R89 Abnormal findings on

Clinical findings in specimens from other specified
examination of other body
organs, systems and tissues under the grouping
fluids, substances and tissues,
General symptoms, signs or clinical findings
without diagnosis

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

Split into two subsections: Abnormal diagnostic
R90-R94 Abnormal findings on
imaging results not elsewhere classified; Abnormal
diagnostic imaging and in
results of function studies of other organs and
function studies, without
systems in the grouping Abnormal results not
diagnosis
elsewhere classified

R95-R99 Ill-defined and

Ill-defined and unknown causes of mortality
unknown causes of mortality

3.7.22 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

22
The high-level categories have only a few changes. Changes are mainly at the lower
character level and include additions of more specific categories of injury types and
body location of the injury. There are no longer separate codes for burns and for
corrosions. They are all together under Burns. Additional dimensions are available from
Chapter X Extension codes, for postcoordination to add further detail such as laterality,
or depth of burn. Major changes have been made to the section for complications of
medical and surgical care. The Quality and Safety TAG has revised the coding of
health care related injuries and events. The concept of a mechanical complication of a
device is now classified as an external cause of harm.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

S00-S09 Injuries to the head Injuries to the head

S10-S19 Injuries to the neck Injuries to the neck

S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax Injuries to the thorax

S30-S39 Injuries to the

Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine or
abdomen, lower back, lumbar
pelvis
spine and pelvis

S40-S49 Injuries to the

Injuries to the shoulder or upper arm
shoulder and upper arm

S50-S59 Injuries to the elbow

Injuries to the elbow or forearm
and forearm

S60-S69 Injuries to the wrist

Injuries to the wrist or hand
and hand

S70-S79 Injuries to the hip

Injuries to the hip or thigh
and thigh

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ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

S80-S89 Injuries to the knee
Injuries to the knee or lower leg
and lower leg

S90-S99 Injuries to the ankle

Injuries to the ankle or foot
and foot

T00-T07 Injuries involving

Injuries involving multiple body regions
multiple body regions

T08-T14 Injuries to
unspecified part of trunk, limb Injuries to unspecified part of trunk, limb or body region
or body region

T15-T19 Effects of foreign

body entering through natural Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
orifice

T20-T32 Burns and corrosions Burns

T363-T35 Frostbite Frostbite

T36-T50 Poisoning by drugs,

Now included under the main grouping Harmful effects
medicaments and biological
of substances
substances

T51-T65 Toxic effects of

Now included under the main grouping Harmful effects
substances chiefly
of substances
nonmedicinal as to source

T66-T78 Other and

unspecified effects of external Other or unspecified effects of external causes
causes

T79 Certain early

complications of trauma Now
Other or unspecified effects of external causes
included under the main
grouping

T80-T88 Complications of
Injury or harm arising from surgical or medical care, not
surgical and medical care, not
elsewhere classified
elsewhere classified

T90-T98 Sequelae of injuries, Redistributed to the specific body grouping as index

of poisoning and of other terms. Sequelae will now be indicated by an cluster
consequences of external identifying the condition that is the sequelae, a code
causes from Chapter 24 QC50 and the original injury.

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3.7.23 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

23
The primary axis for all external causes except exposure to extreme forces of nature,
maltreatment, legal intervention, armed conflict and health care related harm or injury is
now based on ‘intent’. The codes are a combination of intent, followed by mechanism
and object or substance involved in occurrence of injury. There has been an expansion
in the areas of vehicle types, places of occurrence, types of activities, legal/war codes,
and substances. The areas of Complications of medical and surgical care and
Maltreatment syndromes have been revised and improved. Additional dimensions are
available from Chapter X Extension codes, for use in postcoordination. Further, the
categories for sequelae of external causes have been removed and such cases are
primarily coded to the appropriate categories describing the event, resulting in
increases in the frequencies of the specific categories.
An extension code can be used in postcoordination where such sequelae need to be
identified separately.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block
ICD-11 equivalent structure
heading
Redistributed to the main groupings of Unintentional
V01-X59 Accidents cause, Intentional self-harm, Assault and Unknown
intent

X60-X84 Intentional self-harm Intentional self-harm

X85-Y09 Assault Assault

Y10-Y34 Event of
Undetermined intent
undetermined intent

Y35-Y36 Legal intervention

Split into two groups: Legal intervention; Armed conflict
and operations of war

Y40-Y84 Complications of
Causes of health care related harm or injury
medical and surgical care

Redistributed to the specific external cause grouping as

Y85-Y89 Sequelae of external index terms. Sequelae will now be indicated by a cluster
causes of morbidity and identifying the condition that is the sequelae, a code
mortality from Chapter 24 QC50 and the original external cause
code.

Y90-Y98 Supplementary Entities from this block are now found in either Chapter
factors related to causes of 21 Symptoms, signs and clinical findings (e.g. blood
morbidity and mortality alcohol level findings) or have been added to Section X
classified elsewhere ‘Extension codes’ (e.g. nosocomial condition)

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3.7.24 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

24
This chapter has undergone reorganisation and is divided into two main sections:
Reasons for contact with the health system and Factors influencing health status.
There has been an expansion of the section related to reproduction with the addition of
a new section Contact with health services for reproductive management. There is also
a new section for health care related adverse events that occur but do not result in any
harm to the patient.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

Contact with health systems for purposes of
Z00-Z13 Persons encountering
examination or investigation – a section under the
health services for examination and
grouping Reasons for contact with the health
investigation
system

Z20-Z29 Persons with potential Contact with or exposure to communicable

health hazards related to diseases – a section under the grouping Reasons
communicable diseases for contact with the health system

Contact with health services for reasons

Z30-Z39 Persons encountering
associated with reproduction diseases – a section
health services in circumstances
under the grouping Reasons for contact with the
related to reproduction
health system

Split into two new sections, under Reasons for

Z40-Z54 Persons encountering contact with the health system: Contact with health
health services for specific services for specific surgical interventions; Contact
procedures and health care with health services for nonsurgical interventions
not involving devices

Z55-Z65 Persons with potential

health hazards related to Reorganised and now appear under main grouping
socioeconomic and psychosocial of Factors influencing health status
circumstances

Z70-Z76 Persons encountering

Reorganised and now appear under main grouping
health services in other
of Factors influencing health status
circumstances

Z80-Z99 Persons with potential

health hazards related to family Reorganised and now appear under main grouping
and personal history and certain of Factors influencing health status
conditions influencing health status

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3.7.25 Differences between ICD–10 and ICD–11 in Chapter

25
Diseases formerly coded here have been moved to their primary places within ICD–11.
New codes for use as international provisional codes have been included.

Table 1: Comparison of ICD-10 block structure with ICD-11 equivalent structure

ICD-10 block heading ICD-11 equivalent structure

U00-U49 Provisional Split into two new sections: International provisional
assignment of new diseases of assignment of new diseases of uncertain aetiology;
uncertain aetiology or National provisional assignment of new diseases of
emergency use uncertain aetiology

U82-U85 Resistance to
Moved to Chapter 21 with the new title Finding of
antimicrobial and antineoplastic
microorganism resistant to antimicrobial drugs
drugs

3.8 Annex: ICD-11 Updating and Maintenance

This Annex describes the workflow for updating ICD-11. It will be reviewed in 2 years
(2019).

3.8.1 Background
Updating ICD-11 makes sure that ICD meets the needs of users in content and
terminology. Updating includes changes to chapters 1-24 of ICD, the supplementary
chapter traditional medicine conditions (including the development of additional
modules), the supplementary section for functioning assessment, the extension codes,
special views and special tabulation lists, elements of the foundation of ICD, as well as
changes to the reference guide. Any individual can submit a proposal for an update to
the ICD. Such updates can refer to one or more entities of the ICD. The proposals will
be reviewed by scientific experts and classification experts. The decision regarding the
outcome of a particular proposal will be based on the recommendations by these
experts. A workflow between a mortality reference group (MRG) and a morbidity
reference group (MbRG), a medical scientific advisory committee (MSAC), and the
overall overseeing classification and statistics advisory committee (CSAC) will ensure
that all aspects concerning a proposal are considered. Reviews of the synthesis by
classification experts ensure suitability of the proposed changes to the diverse use
cases of the ICD. The process is based on consensus of the members of the CSAC
about a proposed change. All rounds of editing will be handled through electronic
platforms. Where consensus cannot be achieved, the proposal can either be deferred
to subsequent cycles of editing pending arbitration by the WHO or be solved in a face
to face meeting of classification and content experts. In all other cases, a consensus
recommendation is given to WHO for final decision.

All proposals for change must be submitted through the proposal mechanism to ensure
a clear and transparent review of the proposed content. The different types of
proposals that may move through a workflow in order to ensure consistency, structural
integrity, and scientific correctness of the classification. The different workflows warrant
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proper use of the available resources of the Network and WHO. All changes are
reported. There can be the need of steps for verification of updates.

3.8.2 Updating Cycle

Official releases of ICD-11 are produced annually for international use in mortality and
morbidity. A standardised process has been established to ensure that the proposed
updates are collected, routed, reviewed, and duly considered before being
implemented.

The updating is carried out at different levels with different frequencies. That will keep
stability for mortality and allow quicker updates for morbidity use.

 Updates that impact on international reporting (the 4 and 5-digit structure of the
stem codes) will be published every five years.
 Updates at a more detailed level can be published at annual rates and pending
the needs of clinical modifications also twice a year.
 Additions to the index can be done on an ongoing basis.
 Mortality and morbidity rules will be updated in a 10-year cycle.

3.8.3 Types of proposals for ICD-11-MMS maintenance

After reviewing the established proposal types and criteria of ICD-10 and those used
thus far during ICD-11 Revision, taking into context the needs of ICD-11, the following
proposal types for ICD-11 are proposed (see Table below for impact on Morbidity and
Mortality Statistics (MMS)).

 Add new entity:

o to add an entity ‘below the shoreline’ (becoming an index entry in MMS)
o to add an entity ‘above the shoreline’ (becoming a category in MMS)
 Delete entity:
o applicable to an entity below the shoreline (removing an index term from
the MMS)
o applicable to an entity above the shoreline (removing a category from the
MMS)
 Change of Coding Status:
o moving something from the index into the MMS (e.g. giving it an
individual code), or moving something from the MMS to the index
(e.g. eliminating the individual code and directing it elsewhere)
 Content Enhancement including the following subtypes:
o Change of Preferred Term (title) (Changes to a code that affect the
meaning of that code are not allowed and will not be accepted. If a
concept is outdated and must be updated, or a new concept is necessary,
the relevant delete entity or add new entity proposal types, or both, must
be used.)
o Addition / Deletion of a synonym
o Addition / Deletion of an exclusion
o Change of Description (Definition)
o Change of Additional Information (Long Definition)
o Correction of spelling or grammar (in any field)
o Addition / Deletion of a postcoordination combination
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o Addition / Deletion of entity rubric content (does not allow change to

meaning)
 Structural Change including the following subtypes:
o Change a primary parent link
o Change a secondary parent link
 Reference Guide Change applicable to any text of the ICD-
11 Reference Guide, including coding rules and defaults,
etc. Subtypes include:
o Correction of spelling or grammar
o Clarification of a rule
o Change to a rule (that effects data integrity), including changing a coding
hint
 Proposals for clarification that do not require change to the
classification
 Correction of inconsistency between volumes

Ideally, each proposal will specify if it relates to the foundation or to a classification,

including if it is for a national clinical modification or specialty linearization. Tick boxes
in the proposals will allow to indicate the scope.

Not all authors will be familiar with these distinctions. The default may assume that the
proposal relates to the MMS, unless specified otherwise. Regardless, the CSAC will
need to determine if the item, once accepted, will be ‘above or below the shoreline’ in
the MMS.

Not all proposals will require the same level of scrutiny, as each may be considered in
the context of its impact on the statistical classification and the desirability for a
scientifically accurate and up-to-date classification. A ‘fast track’ to review urgently
needed updates, such as for national clinical modifications will be put in place as
needed. Criteria and a specific workflow exist for each ‘track’ used for proposals.

Table 1: Overview of ICD-11 maintenance proposal types and their potential impact on
MMS-collected data. List does not imply a hierarchy of prioritization. ‘X’ means applies.

Proposal Type Major Minor None

Add new entity X

Delete entity (+) X

Change of Coding Status X

Content Enhancement

Change of Preferred Term (title) X X X

Addition/Deletion of a synonym X

Addition/Deletion of an exclusion X

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Proposal Type Major Minor None

Change of Description X X X

Change of Additional Information (Long Description - outside

X
WHO)

Correction of a typo (in any field) X

Addition/Deletion of a postcoordination combination X

Addition/Deletion of entity rubric content – no change to

X
meaning

Structural Change

Change a primary parent X

Change a secondary parent X

Reference Guide change

Correction of a typo X

Clarification X

Change to a rule(that affects data integrity), including

X
changing a coding hint
(+) Errors are deleted; obsolete terms and entities are not deleted as they assist with
mapping and coding as they may still be in use

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Table 2: Groups responsible for maintenance of potential changes. ‘X’ meaning

‘applies’; (X) meaning applies only in special situations; ‘X+’ meaning applies only for
the specific usecase

Proposal Type CSAC MSAC MRG MbRG FDGRG or TM

Add new entity X X X X X+

Delete entity (+) X X X X X+

Change of Coding Status X X X X

Content Enhancement

Change of Preferred Term (title) X (X) X+

Addition/Deletion of a synonym X+ X+

Addition/Deletion of an exclusion X

Change of Description X X X X X+

Change of Additional Information (Long

(X) X+
Description - outside WHO)

Correction of a typo (in any field)

Addition/Deletion of a postcoordination
X X X
combination

Addition/Deletion of entity rubric content

X X+
– no change to meaning

Structural Change

Change a primary parent X (X) X X X+

Change a secondary parent X X

Reference Guide change

Correction of a typo

Clarification X X X X+

Change to a rule(that affects data

integrity), including changing a coding X (X) X+ X+ X+
hint
(+) Errors are deleted; obsolete terms and entities are not deleted as they assist with
mapping and coding as they may still be in use

3.8.4 Proposal completeness

Any individual can submit a proposal for an update to the ICD. Proposals shall be
provided in the format of a short (approximately 500-words) explanation with
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references to underpinning literature and evidence (publications in peer reviewed

journals, or in official meetings of WHO, its CC or NGO in official relationships). The
proposal shall also visualize the changes in the position and address potential impact
on entities outside the proposal.

 The author has registered with full name and affiliation and declared a possible
conflict of interest.
 All proposals must have a clearly written and compelling rationale, with citations
to establish the proposals’ evidence base.
 Proposals that suggest adding entities must have a description, and a
description of the entity. This ensures the correct placement in the foundation.
The rationale must have a scientific background, with references to publications
in peer reviewed journals, or in official meetings of WHO, its CC or NGO in
official relationships.
 Proposals for new codes should include information about how the case would
be coded if the proposed new code is not accepted.
 Proposals with impact on the statistics must include a description or analysis of
the resulting impact.
 Proposals suggesting rule changes must come with an impact analysis.
 An incomplete proposal will be returned to the author.
 The proposal mechanism will not allow submitting proposals without rationale or
with missing description or definition, adequate to process the proposal.

3.8.5 Proposal Timelines

Proposals can be submitted at any time. No impact proposals are processed on an
ongoing basis, proposals requiring review by any of the groups and committees
involved in the workflow, are bundled every 28 February of a year and routed in the
necessary workflow.

Proposals are processed in parallel by the relevant groups. Formal comments are
provided in 2 rounds (2 Months, 1 Month) -offering the opportunity for edits in between.
Final decision about acceptance, rejection or ‘further discussion’ is taken at a
teleconference of the CSAC in June every year. Formal confirmation of the translated
proposals is done by the council teleconference in September. Problematic cases are
held over for face-to-face discussion at the annual meeting.
Official releases are published end September for validity according to the updating
cycle of the kind of proposal, earliest being proposals for adoption in January of the
following year (minimum 6 months for translation, 3 months for formal dissemination,
e.g. for clinical detail, secondary parents or synonyms).

3.8.6 Proposal Workflow

ICD maintenance is a process that requires broad expertise in statistics and medical
science as well as in different use cases. It has already been established that the
structure associated with ICD update and maintenance will be revised in line with new
requirements and efficient use of limited resources. The figure below shows the flow by
which proposals received through the update platform might move through the expert
groups for review and recommendation to WHO. A ‘proposal filter’ will initially review all
proposals received to ensure that they are complete and have been submitted
correctly. The proposals will then be forwarded to the appropriate next step(s). This
triage may identify proposals that can or must be processed in an accelerated process,

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such as due to the type of proposal or in cases of extreme urgency. The proposed
typology of proposals may help to identify the impact on the classification which will, in
turn, inform whether the proposal is an improvement or clarification that can be
implemented on an ongoing basis, or if the change must be queued for implementation
on the updating cycle. The threshold for considering proposals to the foundation is low,
allowing for simple rules to identify what is ‘receivable/actionable’ – namely, if it is
complete and correct, it may be considered. Consideration does not guarantee
acceptance.

The CSAC is composed of chairs of the reference groups, MSAC, and official members
from collaborating centres. The other groups are experts in the relevant area of work.
All decisions are based on consensus. Terms of reference of the working groups are
included in the document that describes the conduct of the WHO Family of
International Classifications Network.

Proposal Workflow
3.8.7 Changes that cannot be done during the normal
updating process
Changes that create new structures that conflict with the existing structure or coding of
a current revision can be carried out only within a new revision of ICD and they include:

1. Changing an existing code of a category

2. Changing an existing grouping into a category if it has children in the
linearization (Allowing this would force changing the codes of the children
therefore it is not allowed)
3. Changing an existing category into a grouping if it has children in the
linearization (Same as above)
4. Inserting an category in between two existing sibling categories. Categories to
an existing siblinghood needs to be entered at the end before the residuals.

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5. Re-ordering of any kind won’t be possible as the ordering would be based on the
codes which won’t change.
6. Retiring an entity that contains children that are not retired and replacing it with
another entity that contains the old children. (This is not possible because the
new entity cannot keep the same code of the retired one and if we give a new
code its code won’t be compatible with the children.)
7. Moving an existing category in a way that would imply changing its code. E.g.
You can’t move the category 2B01.2 which is under 2B01 as a child of 2B00

For the X chapter the only limitation is number 1. Any other change could be done as
the codes of X-Chapter are not based on the hierarchical location.

3.9 Index
Abnormal findings, [Link]

Abortion, complications, 2.24.14

Acronyms table, 0.0.1

Acute and chronic conditions, [Link]

Acute viral hepatitis, 2.21.3

Age classification, 2.28.3, [Link]

Alcohol, 2.21.6

Alphabetical Index, 2.9

Angina pectoris, [Link]

Asthma, 2.32

Atherosclerosis, [Link]

Bertillon, Jacques, 1.7.2

Birth weight

classification, [Link]
Birth(s)

live, [Link]
Blindness, 2.24.10

Blocks of categories, 2.2.1

Blood and blood-forming organs, diseases of, 3.7.3

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Bossier de Lacroix, François (Sauvages), 1.7.1

Carcinoid syndrome, 2.24.7

Cardiac arrest, [Link]

Cardiac arrhythmias, [Link]

Cause(s) of death

adoption of international list of, 1.7.2

tabulation of, [Link]
United States Committee on, 1.7.5
Cerebrovascular disease, 2.21.3

late effect, 2.24.9

Chapters, 1.2.2

using TM1 chapter with other, 2.26.7

Childbirth, [Link], 2.33.18

Chromosomal abnormalities, [Link], 3.7.20

Circulatory diseases, 2.24.12, 2.33.11

Classification and statistics advisory committee (CSAC), [Link]

review mechanisms and workflow, [Link]

proposals to, 3.8.5
Classification of diseases

history, 1.7 purpose, 1.1 reference classifications, 1.1.4 structure, 2.1.6 taxonomy,
1.2.1

Clinical findings, 2.24.15

not elsewhere classified, 2.33.21

Cluster coding 2.4.1, 2.14

minimum data set and markup for, [Link]

precoordination and postcoordination [Link], 2.24.2
Code also instructions 2.3

Code structure 2.2.1

Coding, basic guidelines, 2.12

Combination categories, [Link]

Congenital

anomalies due to other conditions, [Link]

malformations, 3.7.20

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Conventions

ICD, 2.2
spelling, parentheses, grammar 2.3.6
Crown-heel length, [Link]

Cullen, William, 1.7.1

D’Espine, Marc, 1.7.1

Death certificate, 2.17.2, 2.23.1

quick reference guide, 2.23.2

Death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, [Link]

Definitions, 20, 183, 189

Dehydration (volume depletion), [Link]

Delivery, 2.24.14

Derived classifications, [Link]

Descriptions, [Link]

Diagnosis timing, [Link]

Diabetes mellitus

complications of, [Link]

due to other conditions, [Link]
Digestive diseases, 2.33.13

Disability

and functioning (ICF), [Link]

Multiple coding, [Link]

Ear and mastoid process, diseases of, 2.24.11

Early neonatal death, [Link]

Early neonatal mortality rate, weight-specific, [Link]

Ectopic pregnancy, complications, 2.24.14

Endocrine diseases, 2.24.7, 2.33.5

Exclusions, 2.2.3

Extension codes, [Link], 2.5, 2.33.27

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combining stem codes and, 2.4.1
special, 2.4.2
adding detail with, 2.14
External causes, 2.24.17

coding using (morbidity), [Link]

injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of, 2.24.16, 2.33.22
intent of, [Link]
medical devices associated with adverse incidents due to, [Link]
special instructions on main injury in deaths from, 2.21.5
Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), 1.1.3, 1.7.10

Farr, William, 1.22, 1.7.1

Foetal death

special instructions, [Link]

and live birth, [Link]
Foetal death rate, [Link]

Foetal death ratio, [Link]

Four-character subcategories, 2.28.1

Foundation component, 1.2.5, 2.1.12, 2.10

Functioning, 2.1.5

Genitourinary disorders, 2.33.16

Gestational age, [Link]

Glossary, 0.0.2

Graunt, John, 1.7.1

Health Organization of the League of Nations, 1.7.2

Health services, 2.24.18, 2.33.24

factors influencing health status or contact with, [Link]

Hearing loss, 2.24.11

Heart disease, [Link], [Link], [Link]

Heart failure, [Link]

Huber, Michel, 1.7.2

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease

complications of, [Link]

causes of, 2.23.5

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Hypertension

due to other conditions, [Link]

ICD-11

chapter structure, 2.33

choice of integrated coding with other chapters of, [Link]
general features of, 1.2.4, 2.1.11
introduction to, 1.0
maintenance and update, 3.8
mortality coding in, 3.2
new in, 3.0
traditional medicine section of, 2.26.5
using, 2.0
using the TM1 chapter with other chapters of, 2.26.7
Ill-defined conditions, 2.19.10, 2.23.6

Inclusions 2.2.2

Infant mortality, [Link]

Infant mortality rate, [Link]

Infectious agents, [Link]

Infectious and parasitic diseases, 2.24.4

Infertility, [Link]

Influenza, [Link]

Injuries

coding of, [Link]

multiple, [Link]
International Classification of Causes of Sickness and Death, 1.7.2, 1.7.4

International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O), 2.1.10

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), [Link], [Link],

2.1.5, 3.3

International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), [Link], 2.1.4

International List of Causes of Death, 1.7.2

International Lists of Diseases, [Link]

International Statistical Institute, 1.7.2

Interventions (International Classification of Health Interventions), 2.1.4

Ischaemic heart disease, [Link]

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Laboratory findings, abnormal, [Link]

Lead terms, 2.13, 2.26.8

Length, crown-heel, [Link]

Linnaeus, Carolus, 1.7.1

Live birth, [Link]

Liver disorders, [Link]

Main condition, [Link]

Malignant neoplasms, 2.22.5

due to other conditions, [Link]

Maternal death, 2.20.4, 2.21.7, [Link]

late, [Link]
Maternal mortality, 2.28.5

Maternal mortality rate, [Link]

Medical scientific advisory committee (MSAC), [Link], 3.8.1

Meningococcaemia, 2.21.3

Mental and behavioural disorders, 2.24.8, 2.33.6

Mental retardation, [Link]

Metabolic diseases, 2.24.7, 2.33.5

Molar pregnancy, complications, 2.24.14

Morbidity

classification in clinical care, 2.25.1

coding, 2.24.1, [Link]
external causes of, 2.24.17, 2.33.23
for epidemiology, 2.25.2
for quality and safety, 2.25.3
for research purposes, 2.26
in primary care, 2.26.1
international reporting, 2.28.2
main uses of the ICD, 1.4
national modifications for coding, 1.6.3
previous classifications of diseases for statistics, 1.7.4
special cases, 2.25
Mortality (see also Cause(s) of death)

automated coding tools for, 2.31

annexes for coding, 2.23

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certification and recording of perinatal, [Link]
child, [Link]
*code also* instructions in, 2.22.4
coding instructions for, 2.19
external causes of, 2.24.17
infant, [Link]
injury, [Link]
main uses in ICD, 1.3, 2.16
multiple causes, 2.22
neonatal, [Link]
recording requirements of maternal, [Link]
rules, 2.30
special instructions on maternal, 2.21.7
standards and reporting requirements for, 2.28.4
statistical presentation of perinatal
statistics, 2.17
workflow for coding, 2.23.4
Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (MMS), 2.33, 3.8.3

Multiple conditions, [Link]

Multiple injuries, [Link]

Multiple parenting, [Link], [Link]

Musculoskeletal diseases, 2.24.13, 2.33.15

National modifications, 1.6.3, 2.1.3

NEC (not elsewhere classified), 2.3.1

Neonatal death, [Link]

Neonatal mortality rate, [Link]

Neonatal period, [Link]

Neoplasms

behaviour, [Link]
malignant, 2.22.5
malignant due to other conditions, [Link]
more than one primary, [Link]
primary or secondary, [Link]
site not clearly indicated, [Link]
Nephritic syndrome, [Link]

Nervous system diseases, 2.24.9, 2.33.8

Nightingale, Florence, 1.7.4

Nomenclature regulations, 1.1, 1.6.2

Non-illness situations, [Link]

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NOS (not otherwise specified), [Link]

Nutritional diseases, 2.24.7, 2.33.5

Obstetric deaths, [Link]

direct, [Link]
indirect, 2.28.54
Obstetric mortality ratio, direct, [Link]

Patient safety

conceptual (three-part) model, 2.25.4

indicators, [Link]
overview of code-set, 2.25.5
use case, [Link]
Paralytic syndromes, 2.24.9

Parentheses, 2.3.6

Perinatal mortality

certification and recording of, [Link]

gestational age classification for statistics, [Link]
statistical presentation of, [Link]
Perinatal mortality rate, [Link]

weight-specific, [Link]
Perinatal mortality ratio, [Link]

Perinatal period, [Link]

Poisoning, 2.24.16

coding, 2.20.4
consequences of external causes, 2.33.22
special instructions on, 2.21.6
Population size, small, 2.27.3

Postcoordination, [Link], 2.1.13, 2.24.2

Postprocedural conditions

coding, [Link]
chronic, [Link]
Post-term, [Link]

Precoordination, [Link], 2.1.13, 2.24.2

Pregnancy, 2.24.14, [Link], 2.33.18

Pre-term, [Link]

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Primary and secondary parents, 1.2.4

Primary care low resource setting (PCL), 2.1.12

Priority underlying condition, 2.18.6

Procedures

instructions on medical, 2.20.4

special instructions on surgery and other medical, 2.21.4
surgery and other invasive medical, [Link]
Proposals and review mechanisms, [Link], 2.29.1, 3.8.3

Puerperium, 2.24.14, [Link], 2.33.18

Pulmonary heart disease, [Link]

Pulmonary oedema, [Link]

Quality and patient safety conceptual (three-part) model, 2.25.4

indicators, [Link]
overview of code-set, 2.25.5
use case, [Link]
Ratio for death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, [Link]

Recommendations

for data capture and organisation, [Link]

for use and interpretation of coded data, [Link]
general statistical, 2.27
in relation to statistical tables for international comparison, 2.28
Reference classifications, 1.1.4

Related classifications, 1.1.3

Reselection rules, morbidity coding, [Link]

Residual categories, 2.3.3

Respiratory disorders, [Link]

Rheumatic fever, [Link], [Link]

Rheumatic heart disease, [Link]

Rickets, sequelae, [Link]

Roesle, E., 1.7.2

Sauvages (François Bossier de Lacroix), 1.7.1

Sequelae, 2.22.6
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of other specified infectious diseases, [Link]
of trachoma, [Link]
of tuberculosis, [Link]
of rickets, [Link]
Sex

consistency between, of patients and diagnosis, 2.22.7

Signs, 2.24.15, 2.33.21

Specificity, 2.20.2

versus ill-defined codes, 2.27.2

Statistical presentation

of perinatal mortality, [Link]

Special groups, 1.2.2, 2.1.7

Startup Mortality List (SMoL), [Link], 3.1

Stem codes, 2.4

Supplementary sections, [Link]

Suspected conditions, [Link], [Link]

Symptoms

signs or clinical findings, not elsewhere classified, 2.24.15, 2.33.21

Systematized nomenclature of medicine (SNOMED), [Link]

Tabular lists, 1.2.5, 2.1.12

Taxonomy, 1.2.1

Trachoma, sequelae, [Link]

Traditional Medicine, 1.5, 2.33.26

coding instructions, 2.26.6

conditions, 2.26.3
update and maintenance, 2.26.5
use in, 2.26.4
Tuberculosis, sequelae, [Link]

Uncertain diagnoses, 2.22.1

Underlying cause of death (UCOD), 2.17.1, 2.18.7

Urban areas, 2.28.3

Use additional code, if desired instructions, 2.3

Verbal autopsy, [Link]

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Viral encephalitis, sequelae, [Link]

Visual system, diseases of, 3.7.9

Volume depletion (dehydration), [Link]

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