Latent Tuberculosis Infection – How Do Russian and International Classifications of Diseases Correlate?

Abstract

Objective : to analyze approaches to coding latent tuberculosis infection in children and adults in the Russian Federation, including coding under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and to outline pathways toward a unified approach in the Russian Federation. Materials and methods . Analysis of historical and current tuberculosis classifications in the Russian Federation. Identification of outdated approaches and emerging challenges. Results . In the Russian Federation, there is a pressing need to introduce a unified approach to coding LTBI in both adults and children. This is primarily driven by the implementation of preventive treatment and the expansion of its indications for new target populations, including patients receiving biologic therapies and transplant recipients. Adopting a standardized approach to coding LTBI as Z22.7 under ICD-10 will help harmonize statistical data and accurately determine the demand for preventive chemotherapy drugs. Reducing the miscoding of LTBI as R76.1, a practice that still occasionally occurs in the Russian Federation, will lower the overall pediatric morbidity rates reported by Rosstat, which currently relies on the R76.1 code. Furthermore, consideration should be given to amending Order No. 127n of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, dated March 13, 2019, regarding adults with LTBI. A specific dispensary follow-up group needs to be established for adults undergoing preventive TB treatment; this issue has already been resolved for children and adolescents with LTBI.