The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, unveiled by the Health Ministry today, has highlighted a concerning trend: 38 percent of adult Malaysians are experiencing insufficient sleep. This issue is predominantly observed among those residing in urban areas and within the 40 to 59 age group, where over 40 percent are not achieving the recommended seven hours of sleep per day.
The survey’s findings on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and healthcare demand present a troubling picture. Insufficient sleep is intricately linked to various health problems, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression, and a higher incidence of accidents. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasized the severity of the NCDs crisis, describing it as a major challenge since these diseases are the leading causes of death and premature death in the country.
Particularly alarming is the data showing that more than half a million Malaysian adults are simultaneously afflicted with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity. The prevalence of NCDs is also rising among individuals under 40, signaling an urgent need for public health interventions.
Hypertension remains a significant concern, with one in three adults, or approximately 6.7 million Malaysians, affected. Notably, 80 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 are unaware of their condition. While the number of hypertensive individuals has decreased by 0.8 percent since 2019, a substantial portion (11.9 percent) of adults remain undiagnosed.
Diabetes poses a significant health risk as well, with 3.6 million adults, or one in six, diagnosed with the condition. Awareness is particularly low among younger adults, with 84 percent of those aged 18 to 29 unaware of their diabetic status. Despite a 2.9 percent decrease in diabetes cases since 2019, poor dietary habits continue to elevate the risk as individuals age.
The report also underscores poor dietary practices among Malaysians. Only 4.9 percent of adults consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Typically, Malaysians consume just two servings of vegetables each day. Nonetheless, four in five Malaysians meet their daily requirement of plain water intake.
A worrying increase in abdominal obesity and overweight rates has been observed over the past decade, rising from 44.5 percent in 2011 to 54.4 percent in 2023. Additionally, nearly half of the adult population (49.9 percent) exhibit sedentary behavior, and 29.9 percent are physically inactive.
Mental health is another critical area highlighted in the survey. Over one million Malaysians aged 15 and above are living with depression. Minister Dzulkefly urged the public to undergo mental health screenings, noting that younger individuals are increasingly affected by mental health issues.
The survey, conducted from July to September last year, involved 13,616 respondents from various age groups nationwide, achieving a response rate of 83.2 percent. These findings call for immediate and comprehensive health strategies to address the intertwined issues of insufficient sleep, NCDs, and overall well-being in Malaysia.
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