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Review
. 2021 Nov 9;21(Suppl 6):278.
doi: 10.1186/s12911-021-01635-2.

ICD-11 extension codes support detailed clinical abstraction and comprehensive classification

Saskia E Drösler  1 , Stefanie Weber  2 , Christopher G Chute  3
Affiliations
Review

ICD-11 extension codes support detailed clinical abstraction and comprehensive classification

Saskia E Drösler et al. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. .

Abstract

Background: The new International Classification of Diseases-11th revision (ICD-11) succeeds ICD-10. In the three decades since ICD-10 was released, demands for detailed information on the clinical history of a morbid patient have increased.

Methods: ICD-11 has now implemented an addendum chapter X called "Extension Codes". This chapter contains numerous codes containing information on concepts including disease stage, severity, histopathology, medicaments, and anatomical details. When linked to a stem code representing a clinical state, the extension codes add significant detail and allow for multidimensional coding.

Results: This paper discusses the purposes and uses of extension codes and presents three examples of how extension codes can be used in coding clinical detail.

Conclusion: ICD-11 with its extension codes implemented has the potential to improve precision and evidence based health care worldwide.

Keywords: Classification; Extension codes; ICD11; International Classification of Diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Extension codes for external cause specification and automatic postcoordination
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Extension codes offered by the system for specification of a clinical diagnosis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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