GLOBAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION’S INTERNATIONAL
CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES (ICD)-11: THE ALLERGIC AND HYPERSENSITIVITY
CONDITIONS MODEL
Abstract
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) provides a common
language for use worldwide as a diagnostic and classification tool for
epidemiology, clinical purposes and health management. Since its first
edition, the ICD has maintained a framework distributing conditions
according to topography, with the result that some complex conditions,
such as allergies and hypersensitivity disorders (A/H) including
anaphylaxis, have been poorly represented. The change in hierarchy in
ICD-11 permitted the construction of the pioneer section addressed to
A/H, which may result in more accurate mortality and morbidity
statistics, including more accurate accounting for mortality due to
anaphylaxis, strengthen classification, terminology and definitions. The
ICD-11 was presented and adopted by the 72nd World Health Assembly in
May 2019 and the implementation is ongoing worldwide. We here present
the outcomes from an online survey undertaken to reach out the allergy
community worldwide in order to peer review the terminology,
classification and definitions of A/H introduced into ICD-11 and to
support their global implementation. Data are presented here for 406
respondents from 74 countries. All of the sub-sections of the new A/H
section of the ICD-11 had been considered with good accuracy by the
majority of respondents. We believe that, in addition to help during the
implementation phase, all the comments provided will help to improve the
A/H classification and to increase awareness by different disciplines of
what actions are needed to ensure more accurate epidemiological data and
better clinical management of A/H patients.