Mortality from infectious diseases in Israel, 1979-1992, based on revised ICD-9 codes: implications for international comparisons.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined trends in infectious disease mortality rates in Israel between 1979 and 1992, using a traditional and a revised set of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes.


METHODS
A revised scheme of ICD-9 codes was used to compute mortality rates from infectious diseases for the period 1979 through 1992 by sex and for different age categories.


RESULTS
Age-adjusted infectious disease mortality rates based on the revised ICD-9 codes were 3 times higher than those based on traditional codes. Between 1979 and 1992, age-adjusted mortality rates declined more under the revised method than under the traditional method (20% vs 1.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The revised set of ICD-9 codes allows a more comprehensive view of the burden of infectious diseases on public health.
Shohat
T
T
Israel Center for Disease Control, Tel Hashomer, Israel. shohat@trendline.co.il
Harari
G
G
Green
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution