The impact of the pandemic on management of NCDs Meera Murugesan
NON-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been rising steadily in Malaysia, drawing attention to our poor lifestyle and eating habits.
With the pandemic, the issue of NCDs has been thrown into the spotlight again, as people with these conditions are prone to severe or even fatal complications from Covid-19.
Around 70 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia involved individuals who had NCDs, which is a troubling fact as an estimated 74 per cent of Malaysians are afflicted by these diseases.
Individuals with NCDs not only need to exercise extra caution to avoid a Covid-19 infection but also keep their pre-existing medical conditions under control. Asthma and hypertension are among the most common NCDs in Malaysia.