Identifying patients transported by helicopter emergency medical services using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)- 11: a scoping review
Dublin Core
Title
Identifying patients transported by helicopter emergency medical services using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)- 11: a scoping review
Subject
Helicopter emergency medical services, Helicopter, ICD-11, Scoping review
Description
Background Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are an imperative life-saving strategy globally. This
study aimed to identify patients transported by HEMS using the International Classification of Diseases 11th version
(ICD-11).
Methods A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo to identify articles
published in English between January 1, 2010, and February 26, 2025, that included at least 5 cases transported by
HEMS. Studies were included if they reported trauma, non-trauma patients or both and for those with trauma, type of
trauma and/or cause of trauma.
Results This scoping review included 91 studies involving 3,687,053 patients (range, 6−1,679,675 cases), with a
median number of 1,562 male patients (standardized proportion 66.07%). Non-traumatic conditions accounted for
57.25% of global HEMS missions, while trauma represented 42.75%. Unlike other regions, North America had a higher
incidence of trauma than disease. Among disease cases, cardiac arrest (MC82, 6.92%) was a frequently reported
condition. Among the trauma cases, polytrauma (ND37, 1.45%) was the most common. The transport accidents, falls,
and submersion represented the predominant trauma causes. Regarding trauma type, incidence of blunt trauma
(26.30%) was more than five times that of penetrating trauma (5.03%).
Conclusions This study identified the HEMS-transported patient profiles by the ICD-11 framework. We found
significant heterogeneity and underreporting in the existing literatures, leading to several diseases and trauma being
classified under non-specific ICD-11 codes, along with their causes and types. Future research should prioritize the
collection and reporting of granular, specific diagnostic data to fully leverage the ICD-11 framework. This will be
essential for improving patient outcomes in high-acuity pre-hospital care.
Clinical trial number Not applicable.
study aimed to identify patients transported by HEMS using the International Classification of Diseases 11th version
(ICD-11).
Methods A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo to identify articles
published in English between January 1, 2010, and February 26, 2025, that included at least 5 cases transported by
HEMS. Studies were included if they reported trauma, non-trauma patients or both and for those with trauma, type of
trauma and/or cause of trauma.
Results This scoping review included 91 studies involving 3,687,053 patients (range, 6−1,679,675 cases), with a
median number of 1,562 male patients (standardized proportion 66.07%). Non-traumatic conditions accounted for
57.25% of global HEMS missions, while trauma represented 42.75%. Unlike other regions, North America had a higher
incidence of trauma than disease. Among disease cases, cardiac arrest (MC82, 6.92%) was a frequently reported
condition. Among the trauma cases, polytrauma (ND37, 1.45%) was the most common. The transport accidents, falls,
and submersion represented the predominant trauma causes. Regarding trauma type, incidence of blunt trauma
(26.30%) was more than five times that of penetrating trauma (5.03%).
Conclusions This study identified the HEMS-transported patient profiles by the ICD-11 framework. We found
significant heterogeneity and underreporting in the existing literatures, leading to several diseases and trauma being
classified under non-specific ICD-11 codes, along with their causes and types. Future research should prioritize the
collection and reporting of granular, specific diagnostic data to fully leverage the ICD-11 framework. This will be
essential for improving patient outcomes in high-acuity pre-hospital care.
Clinical trial number Not applicable.
Creator
Xuejun Hu1
, Wei Jiang1
, Shuo Liu2
, Dan Wu2* and Changchang Chen1*
, Wei Jiang1
, Shuo Liu2
, Dan Wu2* and Changchang Chen1*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01419-1
Date
2026
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Xuejun Hu1
, Wei Jiang1
, Shuo Liu2
, Dan Wu2* and Changchang Chen1*, “Identifying patients transported by helicopter emergency medical services using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)- 11: a scoping review,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12020.