What term is used in ICD-10 to represent a consequence of a previous disease or injury?

The term used in ICD-10 to represent a consequence of a previous disease or injury is "sequela." This term refers specifically to the conditions that arise as a direct result of a prior disease or injury, providing a clear mechanism to classify and code these ongoing effects within the healthcare system.

Sequela can be an important detail in patient records, as it helps healthcare providers understand the patient's medical history and the long-term impacts of any prior conditions. For instance, if a patient had a stroke, the resulting paralysis might be classified as a sequela of that stroke, which is critical for treatment and management purposes.

In contrast, epidemiology pertains to the study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations and does not address individual consequences of past diseases. Etiology refers to the cause of a disease or condition rather than the aftermath. Incident generally relates to the occurrence of new cases of disease within a specific time period, focusing on the initial event rather than its subsequent effects.