KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) remains the leading cause of death in Malaysia, with diabetes and hypertension among the key risk factors contributing to the condition.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 17,421 Malaysians died from IHD in 2024, while lung-related diseases, stroke and cancer were also among the leading causes of death during the year.
“Malaysians today are facing a pandemic of NCDs (non-communicable diseases). While we have moved past the infectious disease known as COVID-19, these NCDs actually present a greater challenge.
“They pose a major threat to public health and the people's well-being, as NCDs are now affecting the younger population and often go undetected, typically showing no signs or symptoms until the condition has become quite severe,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar), who asked the ministry to outline strategies for addressing the rise in diabetes and hypertension cases among youths below the age of 40.
Dzulkefly said that besides diabetes and hypertension, high cholesterol levels and obesity were also key risk factors for NCDs.
He said findings from the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) estimated that 192,464 people aged 18 to 29 had diabetes, while 339,853 had hypertension.
“However, more than eight out of ten cases of both diseases remain undiagnosed or unknown,” he said.
For those aged 30 to 39, the NHMS estimated that 378,508 people had diabetes and 938,865 had hypertension.
“Consequently, the ministry has been implementing the National Health Screening Initiative since 2022 to improve the early detection of NCD risk factors among individuals aged 18 and above.
“To date, 2,659,841 individuals below the age of 40 have been screened, with 339,854 found to have high blood pressure and 176,415 found to have high blood glucose levels,” he said.
Dzulkefly said those identified as being at risk or having a medical condition would be referred for follow-up and holistic treatment by a multidisciplinary team.
-- BERNAMA