Mortality from infectious diseases in Israel, 1979-1992, based on revised ICD-9 codes: Implications for international comparisons

Objectives. 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.