NLM Classification 2022 Winter Edition Now Available

Scope of the 2022 Winter Edition

The major focus of the 2022 winter edition of the NLM Classification was the evaluation of the 2022 MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) vocabulary for inclusion in the Classification index. Several additions and changes were made to the Index and Schedules based on this review. All main index headings are now linked to the 2022 vocabulary in the MeSH Browser. Additional minor updates were made to the Index and Schedules.

Summary Statistics for the 2022 Winter Edition

• 14 New Class Numbers
• 32 Modified Class Numbers
• 3 Canceled Class Numbers
• 1 New Schedule Header
• 2 Modified Schedule Headers
• 2 Deleted Schedule Headers
• 37 New Index Headings (33 from 2022 MeSH)
• 80 Modified Index Headings
• 1 Deleted Index Heading

Examples of Additions and Changes Based on MeSH 2022

New 2022 Headings Added to Index by Tree (and Related Maintenance)

Of the 277 new 2022 MeSH descriptors, only 33 were added to the NLM Classification index. Below is a list by MeSH tree category in addition to any other classification maintenance done.

Anatomy [A]

• Vestibular System – new class number created: WL 701 Vestibular system

Diseases [C]

• Genital Diseases
• Iron Deficiencies
• Neuroinflammatory Diseases
• Urogenital Diseases

Chemicals and Drugs [D]

• Antimicrobial Peptides

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment [E]

• Cellular Automata
• Hospital to Home Transition
• Medicine, Persian – new class number created: WB 55.P4 Persian medicine
• Myofascial Release Therapy
• Vaccine Development – new class number created: QW 810 Vaccine development

Psychiatry and Psychology [F]

• Cognitive Psychology
• Mentalization-Based Therapy – new class number created: WM 420.5.M5 Mentalization-based therapy
• Vaccination Hesitancy

Disciplines and Occupations [H]

• Genomic Medicine - Genomic medicine added to caption at WB 102.7
• Geroscience
• Translational Science, Biomedical

Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena [I]

• Child Poverty
• Community Resources
• Environmental Justice
• Ethnic and Racial Minorities
• Health Inequities
• Home Environment
• Hunting – new class number created: QT 260.5.H9
• Rugby – new class number created: QT 260.5.R7
• Social Structure

Technology, Industry, and Agriculture [J]

• Fermented Beverages 
• Haptic Technology

Information Science [L]

• Sentiment Analysis

Named Groups [M]

• Adolescent Fathers
• Adolescent Mothers

Health Care [N]

• Biosecurity
• Laboratories, Clinical

Main Index Headings Changes Based on MeSH 2022

Of the 22 MeSH headings that were changed only 13 affected the NLM Classification.

2021 MESH	2022 MESH
African Continental Ancestry Group	Blacks
Asian Continental Ancestry Group	Asians
Cingulata	Xenarthra
Continental Population Groups	Racial Groups
Dental Models	Models, Dental
*Ethnic Groups	Ethnicity
European Continental Ancestry Group	Whites
Fermented Foods and Beverages	Fermented Foods
Hispanic Americans	Hispanic or Latino
Immunosuppression	Immunosuppression Therapy
Insectivora	Eulipotyphla
Oceanic Ancestry Group	Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Translational Medical Research	Translational Research, Biomedical

*Note: Ethnic Groups was deleted from the Classification index rather than changed to Ethnicity.

Table G (Geographic Notation) Addition

 

The following geographic notation was added based on the new Z1 MeSH 2022 addition:

VI. EUROPE
GA2--European Alpine Region

 

List of All Class Numbers Added for the 2022 Winter Edition

New Number	Class Name
QT 260.5.H9	Hunting
QT 260.5.R7	Rugby
QW 810	Vaccine development
QW 955	Immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressive agents
W 67	Health services accessibility (Table G)
W 67.1	[Health services accessibility] General coverage (Not Table G)
WA 103	Medical geography. Geography of disease (General)
WA 104	Diseases of geographic areas (Table G)
WA 106.1	General coverage (Not Table G)
WB 55.P4	Persian medicine
WL 701	Vestibular system
WM 420.5.M5	Mentalization-based therapy
WU 30.1	[Dental health surveys] General coverage (Not Table G)
WZ 80.5.N2	Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

 

List of All Class Numbers Canceled for the 2022 Winter Edition

Canceled Number	Class Name
WB 700	Medical geography. Geography of disease (General)
WB 710	Diseases of geographic areas (Table G)
WB 720	Diseases of ethnic groups (General or not elsewhere classified)

 

2022 Summer Edition

The 2022 summer version will be published in late August 2022. It will encompass the systematic review of WF (Respiratory System) and WH (Hemic and Lymphatic Systems) schedules.

To learn more about the NLM Classification see the NLM Policy on Classification.

By Sharon R. Willis
Cataloging and Metadata Management Section, Technical Services Division