Classifications
This page outlines the classifications used for this report.
Australia uses the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) to code causes of death (WHO 2019). In this report, deaths were coded using the 10th Revision (ICD-10) (WHO 2019) (Table T1).
| Condition | ICD–10 codes |
|---|---|
| Hypertensive disease | I10, I11, I12, 113, I15 |
| Hypertension (essential/primary) | I10 |
| Hypertensive heart disease | I11 |
| Hypertensive kidney disease | I12 |
| Hypertensive heart and kidney disease | I13 |
| Secondary hypertension | I15 |
Source: WHO 2019.
For hospital diagnoses, a classification modified for Australia is used. Hospital data were coded using the ICD-10-AM classification (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Conditions, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification) (Table T2). Diagnosis data for 2023–24 were reported to the NHMD using the 12th edition of the ICD-10-AM (IHACPA 2022a). For emergency department diagnoses, a classification modified for Australia, the ICD-10-AM (12th edition) shortlist was used (IHACPA 2022b) (Table T3).
| Condition | ICD–10-AM codes |
|---|---|
| Hypertensive disease | I10, I11, I12, 113, I15 |
| Hypertension (essential/primary) | I10 |
| Hypertensive heart disease | I11 |
| Hypertensive kidney disease | I12 |
| Hypertensive heart and kidney disease | I13 |
| Secondary hypertension | I15 |
| Hypertension supplementary code | U82.3 |
Source: IHACPA 2022a.
| Condition | ICD–10-AM shortlist codes |
|---|---|
| Hypertensive disease | I10, I11, I12, 113, I15 |
| Hypertension (essential/primary) | I10 |
| Hypertensive heart or kidney disease | I13.9 |
| Secondary hypertension | I15.9 |
Source: IHACPA 2022b.
Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification codes are used in this report to classify medicines. This classification groups medicines according to the body organ or system they act upon, their therapeutic characteristics, and their chemical characteristics.
A list of the medicine groups included in this report is shown in Table T4.
More information on the ATC classification system can be found at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology.
| Medicine class name | ATC code |
|---|---|
| Antihypertensives | C02 (except C02KX) |
| Diuretics | C03 |
| Beta blocking agents | C07 |
| Calcium channel blockers | C08 |
| Agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system | C09 |
Source: WHO 2022.
IHACPA (Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority) (2022a), ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS, IHACPA, accessed 27 March 2026.
IHACPA (2022b), Emergency Department ICD-10-AM Principal Diagnosis Short List, IHACPA, accessed 27 March 2026.
WHO (World Health Organization) (2019), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10), WHO, accessed 27 March 2026.
WHO (2022), ATC/DDD Index, WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, WHO, accessed 27 March 2026.