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UKCRC Health Research Classification System

Ear and hearing

Advice on health categories

Normal development and function, or conditions causing damage to the ear should be coded to Ear. Studies of brain regions responsible for hearing should be coded as Neurological and not Ear. If the research involves the transmission of signals from the ear to the brain it may be appropriate to code for both the organ and the brain.

 

Main inclusion criteria

Dementias, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and studies of the normal brain and nervous system.

 

Advice on health categories

This category is suitable for studies of the ‘wiring’ of the brain.

Includes studies of TSEs, CJD and prion protein.

Studies on circadian rhythm are often but not always Neurological.

Other conditions where disruption to circadian rhythm is linked to disease should be coded to the appropriate health category. For example, circadian influence on immune cells in rheumatoid arthritis would be coded as Inflammatory and Immune System.

Studies on headaches and migraine are often but not always Neurological.

Headaches resulting from other conditions may require alternative or additional health categories, following the rules for sequelae. For example, headaches resulting from visual impairments can be coded 50% Eye, 50% Neurological.

Studies of the Blood-Brain Barrier, vascular cognitive impairments and vascular dementia should be coded as Neurological unless there is significant additional emphasis on either circulation (50% Cardiovascular, 50% Neurological) or the blood flow to the brain (50% Neurological, 50% Stroke).

Excludes studies dealing with the brain of individuals with a psychological condition listed in the Mental Health category which should be coded as 100% Mental Health.
 

Official terminology

Full name of category

Short name Unique ID
Neurological Neuro

HRCS_HC_13NEU

 

Related external links

International Classifications of Diseases (ICD 10 v2016) – Chapter VI:   Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)
 

Main inclusion criteria

Deafness and normal ear development and function.
 

Advice on health categories

Includes normal studies on this organ or the condition of deafness.

Studies that involve the auditory nerve leading to the brain may be double coded as 50% Neurological and 50% Ear as appropriate.

Excludes mapping of hearing in regions of the brain in which case the Neurological category should be applied.
 

Official terminology

Full name of category

Short name Unique ID
Ear Ear

HRCS_HC_05EAR

 

Related external links

International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10 v2016) – Chapter VIII: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95)
 

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