DIMDI - Basic information on ICD-9

ICD-9 - International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision

The abbreviation ICD means International Classification of Diseases; the number 9 signifies its 9th. Revision. This classification was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and translated into German by DIMDI. ICD-9 was used util 1997 for mortality statistics and until 1999 for morbidity coding in the German hospitals (version 6.0). For both applications is has been replaced by ICD-10 which is more current.

ICD-9 consists of two parts published in three volumes.

Volume I, Part A contains an introduction, the List of Three Character Categories, the Tabular List of Inclusions and Exclusions and the Morphology of Neoplasms.
Volume I, Part B contains a general introduction into ICD, the coding guidelines for mortality and morbidity with numerous exanples and two supplementary classifications:
- External Causes of Injuriesy and Poisoning (E codes)
- Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (V codes)
Volume II contains the Alphabetical Index with many diagnoses, causes of injuries and cases of poisoning and adverse effects of drugs and chemical substances, all coded by ICD-9.

A 3 volume adaptation with more specific codes is in use in hospitals of the United States of America: The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). As in the WHO edition, volume I contains the Tabular List and volume II the Alphabetical Index. The additional volume III contains a classification of medical and surgical procedures with a tabular list and an index.