More than 80% Covid-19 deaths associated with comorbidities, says Adham

PUTRAJAYA: About 86.3%, or 1,126 cases, of the total 1,304 deaths in Malaysia due to Covid-19 recorded until Wednesday (April 7) were those with a history of comorbid diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes or the elderly, says Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

The Health Minister said these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are related to food, diet and nutrition.

The risk of comorbid death is high when infected with Covid-19, he said when launching the state-level Malaysia Nutrition Month and the MyChoice Initiative Friday (April 9).

In conjunction with the event, he said the ministry had come up with a new Malaysian Food Pyramid and Malaysian Diet Guide which contained significant changes in the food group with food groups for vegetables and fruits placed at the base of the pyramid.

Prior to this, he said, the food group at the base of the pyramid was carbohydrate, comprising rice, noodles, bread, cereals and potatoes.

"This shows the importance of consuming vegetables and fruits in greater amounts than other food groups, if possible, at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day," he added.

On the MyChoice, he said, it was an initiative to encourage the food service industry to prepare meals based on healthy nutrient criteria.

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