Family of International Health Classifications

Core classification is the three character version of ICD-10, which is mandatory for reporting of national mortality data to WHO and for international comparisons. Although the four character version of ICD-10 is not compulsory for reporting at the international level, it is nevertheless recommended for many applications. Together with the "Special Tabulation Lists" it is an essential part of ICD.

There are two broad groups of classifications. One deals with informations related to diagnoses and the status of health. They can be derived from the Tabular List of ICD either by condensation or by addition of detail. Condensed lists can be used for presentation of data, for statistical tabulation and possibly also for information support in primary health care. On the other hand, more specific lists can be used to gain more clinical detail, e.g. for specialty-based adaptations. This group also comprises classifications supplementary to the Tabular List which may add another classification axis, e.g. the Morphology of Neoplasms.

The second group of classifications dealth with aspects of health problems lying outside of the mere formal diagnoses of existing morbid conditions and classifications being of importance for health care. This group includes the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, the International Classification of Procedures in Medicine and Reasons of Encounter.

The "Family" further contains a conceptual framework for definitions, standards and methods, which, although not being classifications, have been closely linked to ICD since a long time. One of these concepts is e.g. the development of methods for community based information support to primary health care.

Also a member of the "Family" is the International Nomenclature of Diseases (IND), although it is not directly derived from ICD.

The figure below shows the extent and the relations between the different members of the family of classifications.