International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the standard diagnostic international classification system for mortality and morbidity data. The ICD is a structured classification system of disease and associated codes that has been designed to promote international compatibility in health data collecting and reporting. During the 1800s, several statisticians started to develop medical-based data reporting systems. The importance of creating a uniform system was realized and several medical statisticians commissioned the completion of this task. The International Statistical Institute adopted the first edition of the ICD in 1893. The first ICD edition was based on the Bertillon Classification of Causes of Death, developed by Jacques Bertillon (the chief of Statistical Services for the City of Paris). In 1898, the American Public Health Association recommended that several countries use this system and revisions be completed once every 10 years. The ICD is an extremely valuable system, allowing for international and national uniform data analysis for tasks such as disease surveillance and mortality analyses.