Disease coding and grouping, typically based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), is an important initial step in health statistics reporting. The development of a consistent...
Description
Disease coding and grouping, typically based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), is an important initial step in health statistics reporting. The development of a consistent classification scheme for mortality and morbidity is a challenge. The scheme needs to reflect health priorities of the province while remaining consistent with classifications in other jurisdictions to facilitate comparisons at national and international levels. The recent implementation of International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) has added to this challenge. Building on the work of national and international studies, this study defined 120 cause of death groupings with equivalent ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding to be used for routine health surveillance reporting in Alberta. This grouping and coding scheme is consistent with Statistics Canada mortality reporting. The study also presents comparability ratios from studies in Canada, the...