ICPC-2 vs ICD-10: Understanding Key Healthcare Classification Systems

January 24, 2025

Table of Contents

Introduction

In the complex world of healthcare, standardized classification systems play a crucial role in organizing and communicating medical information. Two of the most important systems are the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). This blog post will explore these systems, their purposes, and how they compare.

What is ICPC-2?

ICPC-2, or the International Classification of Primary Care, Second Edition, is a coding system specifically designed for primary care and general practice. Developed by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), ICPC-2 allows for the classification of three important elements of the health care encounter:

Reasons for encounter (RFE)
Diagnoses or problems
Process of care

ICPC-2 uses a biaxial structure with 17 chapters based on body systems and seven components dealing with symptoms, diagnoses, and interventions [1].

Key Features of ICPC-2:

Focuses on primary care encounters
Uses a simple structure with 17 chapters and 7 components
Includes codes for patient reasons for encounter
Emphasizes the process of care

What is ICD-10?

ICD-10, or the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, is a comprehensive coding system for all health conditions and related health problems. Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), ICD-10 is used globally for morbidity and mortality statistics, reimbursement systems, and automated decision support in healthcare [2].

Key Features of ICD-10:

Covers all health conditions and external causes of injury or disease
Uses a complex alphanumeric coding system
Provides highly specific diagnostic codes
Includes codes for factors influencing health status

Comparing ICPC-2 and ICD-10

Feature	ICPC-2	ICD-10
Purpose	Primarily for primary care and general practice	Comprehensive classification for all healthcare settings
Structure	17 chapters based on body systems, 7 components	22 chapters with alphanumeric codes
Specificity	Less specific, focusing on common problems in primary care	Highly specific, covering rare diseases and detailed conditions
Ease of Use	Simpler structure, easier to use in primary care settings	More complex, requires more training to use effectively
Scope	Includes reasons for encounter and process of care	Focuses primarily on diagnoses and health problems

Importance of Conversion between ICPC-2 and ICD-10

The ability to seamlessly convert between ICPC-2 and ICD-10 is essential for several reasons:

Interoperability: Enables smooth data exchange between primary care and specialized settings, fostering a holistic view of patient health.
Enhanced Patient Care: Facilitates accurate tracking of patient histories and outcomes across different care levels, leading to more informed decisions.
Robust Health Data: Supports accurate collection and analysis of health statistics, crucial for research, resource allocation, and public health planning.

Table: Disease Categories by ICD-10 Codes and ICPC-2 Codes [3]

Disease Category	ICD-10	ICPC-2
Low back and neck pain	M46.9, M47, M48.0-M48.2, M48.8-M48.9, M50-M54	L01, L02, L03, L84, L86, L85, L83
Shoulder syndrome	M75	L08, L92
Osteoarthritis	M15-M19	L89, L90, L91
Osteoporosis	M80-M81	L95
Rheumatoid arthritis*	M05-M06	L88
Fibromyalgia	M79	L18
Bursitis/tendinitis/synovitis	M65–M67, M70–M72, M760–M770, M772–M779	L87
Gout	M10	T92
Total musculoskeletal	All M codes	All L codes

*In ICPC-2, this category is defined as “Rheumatoid/seropositive arthritis”.

Dive into our exclusive PDF on the conversion between ICPC-2 and ICD-10. This essential guide is packed with expert tips, practical tools, and the latest updates that every healthcare professional needs. Please download the full conversion guide in PDF here.

Both ICPC-2 and ICD-10 serve important roles in healthcare classification. ICPC-2 is tailored for primary care, offering a simpler structure that includes patient reasons for encounter. ICD-10, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive, detailed classification system for all health conditions across various healthcare settings. Understanding these systems is crucial for healthcare professionals, administrators, and researchers to effectively manage and analyze health information.

References

[1] World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA). (2021). International Classification of Primary Care, Second edition (ICPC-2). https://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/Groups/WICC/International%20Classification%20of%20Primary%20Care%20Dec16.pdf

[2] World Health Organization. (2019). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases

[3] Kinge, J.M., Knudsen, A.K., Skirbekk, V. et al. (2015). Musculoskeletal disorders in Norway: Prevalence of chronicity and use of primary and specialist health care services. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 16(75). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-015-0536-z