list out rules/checks performed by CoDEdit tool and convert to R functions

[ernestguevarra]

Following are the types of checks performed by CoDEdit based on this document.

• Sex-specific cause #6

For causes that are specific to one sex, the tool will flag as error when the combination of sex and cause is wrong. For e.g. a female death from prostate cancer is an error.

• Age-specific cause #7

For causes that are specific to certain ages, the tool will flag as error when the combination of age and cause is doubtful. For e.g. maternal death at a female aged 5 years or death from senility at age 15 years.

• Notifiable diseases #8

Diseases that are usually notifiable in countries such as yellow fever, cholera and plague are flagged if there are deaths. Also if there is any death from small pox, this is flagged as the disease is now considered as eradicated.

• Typing mistakes or incomplete code #9

If code is typed as “J18A” for e.g., this is flagged as error as the 4th character cannot be a letter “A”. If the coding is generally done at the 4-character level of the ICD-10, code “E10” for e.g. will be flagged since it is missing a 4th character. It should be either E100 or E101, … or E109.

• Incorrect use of ICD-10 codes for underlying cause of death #10

A common mistake is the use of “asterix” codes. As per the ICD-10 rules, “asterix” codes should not be used for underlying cause of death. Instead the “dagger” codes should be used. In addition to the “asterix” codes, there is another list in the ICD-10 volume 2, section 4.1.12 showing all the codes that should not be used for underlying cause of death. If any of those codes are used, they would be flagged as errors. The CodEdit tool will flag each of those errors and provide an alternative code for correcting each error. Note that the alternative code provided by CoDEdit is only a suggestion. If you accept the suggested code, you can now click on it to accept it. Data producers should in principle review the death certificate and after discussion with the certifier or relevant responsible officer, they could then decide to use another valid ICD-10 code.

• Incorrect use of ICD-10 updates #11

The ICD-10 is regularly updated following proposals from users and advancement in knowledge. The updates are made available on WHO web site indicating the year when they become operational. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases/list-of-official-icd-10-updates. In reality, such changes imply considerable investment at the country level to be implemented. The result is that many countries do not implement the updates. Among the countries which implement the ICD-10 updates, some implement them correctly and others do not. This results in non-comparability of data across countries and time. CoDEdit takes into account the above complex situation. There is a box to allow data producers to indicate if they are using ICD-10 updates. If they are using the ICD-10 updates, their data would be verified to ensure that those updates are implemented correctly. Those who do not use ICD-10 updates, their data would be checked with the initial (first edition) ICD-10 codes.

• ill-defined ICD 10 codes #57

These are:

Category or subcategory	Code
I46.1	Sudden cardiac death
I46.9	Cardiac arrest, unspecified
(I50.-)	Acute heart failure in I50.-
I95.9	Hypotension, unspecified
I99	Circulatory disease, unspecified
J96.0	Acute respiratory failure
J96.9	Respiratory failure, unspecified
P28.5	Respiratory failure of newborn
R00-R57.1, R57.8-R64, R65.2-R65.3, R68.0-R94, R96-R99	Symptoms, signs and abnormal laboratory findings

[ernestguevarra]

Following are the types of checks performed by CoDEdit based on this document.

• Sex-specific cause

For causes that are specific to one sex, the tool will flag as error when the combination of sex and cause is wrong. For e.g. a female death from prostate cancer is an error.

• Age-specific cause

For causes that are specific to certain ages, the tool will flag as error when the combination of age and cause is doubtful. For e.g. maternal death at a female aged 5 years or death from senility at age 15 years.

• Notifiable diseases

Diseases that are usually notifiable in countries such as yellow fever, cholera and plague are flagged if there are deaths. Also if there is any death from small pox, this is flagged as the disease is now considered as eradicated.

• Typing mistakes or incomplete code

If code is typed as “J18A” for e.g., this is flagged as error as the 4th character cannot be a letter “A”. If the coding is generally done at the 4-character level of the ICD-10, code “E10” for e.g. will be flagged since it is missing a 4th character. It should be either E100 or E101, … or E109.

• Incorrect use of ICD-10 codes for underlying cause of death

A common mistake is the use of “asterix” codes. As per the ICD-10 rules, “asterix” codes should not be used for underlying cause of death. Instead the “dagger” codes should be used. In addition to the “asterix” codes, there is another list in the ICD-10 volume 2, section 4.1.12 showing all the codes that should not be used for underlying cause of death. If any of those codes are used, they would be flagged as errors. The CodEdit tool will flag each of those errors and provide an alternative code for correcting each error. Note that the alternative code provided by CoDEdit is only a suggestion. If you accept the suggested code, you can now click on it to accept it. Data producers should in principle review the death certificate and after discussion with the certifier or relevant responsible officer, they could then decide to use another valid ICD-10 code.

• Incorrect use of ICD-10 updates

The ICD-10 is regularly updated following proposals from users and advancement in knowledge. The updates are made available on WHO web site indicating the year when they become operational. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases/list-of-official-icd-10-updates. In reality, such changes imply considerable investment at the country level to be implemented. The result is that many countries do not implement the updates. Among the countries which implement the ICD-10 updates, some implement them correctly and others do not. This results in non-comparability of data across countries and time. CoDEdit takes into account the above complex situation. There is a box to allow data producers to indicate if they are using ICD-10 updates. If they are using the ICD-10 updates, their data would be verified to ensure that those updates are implemented correctly. Those who do not use ICD-10 updates, their data would be checked with the initial (first edition) ICD-10 codes.