Cardiovascular disease deaths

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems

National Centre for Classification in Health, Australia; CM - Clinical Modification; AM - Australian Modification

This indicator uses underlying cause of death only.

Transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) are a risk factor for strokes. TIA were classified as diseases of circulatory system in ICD-9-CM (with the exception of Amaurosis fugax, which has always been classified with nervous system group; ICD-9: 362.34, ICD10: G45.4). In ICD-10-AM, they are classified with the diseases of nervous system (G codes) and, consequently, are not included in the stroke count and in the total of diseases of circulatory system (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, I codes).

Haemorrhoids were classified as diseases of the circulatory system under ICD-10-AM Seventh edition (I84). In ICD-10-AM Eighth edition haemorrhoids are classified with diseases of the digestive system (K64). Consequently, haemorrhoids are not included in the total count of diseases of circulatory system (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, I codes).

Care should be taken when comparing data from different sources as only an Intracranial haemorrhage (I60-I62) is considered a stroke in some reports while Haemorrhage (I60-I62), Cerebral infarction (I63) and Stroke not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (I64) are included in this report.

Please note that deaths data are coded to the unmodified versions of the ICD classification system.