Browsing by Author "Chong Zhuo Lin"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- PublicationCluster of COVID-19 Cases in a Workplace: the First Cluster of a Workplace-related Outbreak in Malaysia, 2020(2022)
;Noor Aliza Lodz ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Wan Shakira Rodzlan Hasani ;Noor Ani Ahmad ;Fazila Haryati Ahmad ;Halizah Mat Rifin ;Shubash Shander Ganapathy ;Nur Liana Ab Majid ;Nik Adilah Shahein ;Muhd Hafizuddin Taufik Ramli ;Zazarida Zakiman ;Salina Md Talib ;Lee Soo Cheng ;Rama Krishna Supramaniam ;Muhammad Haikal GhazaliMohamed Paid YusofIn the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, there was no specific guideline for handling an outbreak if it occurred in a workplace. This study aimed to describe the first and one of the largest clusters linked to a business corporate in Malaysia. A descriptive analysis was conducted using surveillance data from the Petaling District Health Office notified between 28 Feb and 22 Mar 2020. All cases and contacts were identified through surveillance, epidemiological investigation, and laboratory investigation. The total number of confirmed cases and close contacts were 63 and 1,536, respectively. The respondents were mainly Malay, male, and the mean age was 46 years. Of the 63 positive cases, 48 (76%) were reported to have symptoms during the investigation, while the remaining 15 cases (24%) were asymptomatic. The main clinical manifestations were fever (52%), cough (37%), sore throat (27%) and shortness of breath (27%). The mean incubation period was 3.5 days. Due to the timely prevention and control measures carried out by the Petaling District Health Office, the chain of transmission was interrupted as the last case was reported on 19 Mar 2020. - PublicationComorbidities and clinical features related to severe outcomes among COVID-19 cases in Selangor, Malaysia(2021)
;Wan Shakira Rodzlan Hasani ;Shubash Shander Ganapathy ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Halizah Mat Rifin ;Mohammad Nazaruddin Bahari ;Muhammad Haikal Ghazali ;Noor Aliza Lodz ;Muhammad Hafizuddin Taufik Ramli ;Nur Liana Ab Majid ;Jane Ling Miaw Yn ;Muhammad Fadhli Mohd Yusoff ;Noor Ani Ahmad ;Anita Suleiman ;Ahmad Faudzi Yusoff ;Venugopalan BalanSha'ari NgadimanBackground: Pre-existing comorbidities are predictive of severe COVID-19 infection requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. This study determined comorbidity and additional predictive factors for invasive ventilatory support among Malaysian COVID-19 patients. Method: Field data collected during COVID-19 outbreak in Selangor, Malaysia up to 13th April 2020 were used. It contained sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and presenting symptoms of COVID-19 cases. Their medical records were traced for information on intensive care unit admission requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Results: A total of 1,287 COVID-19 positive cases were included in the analysis. The most common comorbidities among COVID-19 patients were hypertension (15.5%) and diabetes (11.0%). More than one third of symptomatic patients presented with fever (43.8) and cough (37.1%). Among all 25 intubated cases, 68.0% had hypertension, 88.0% had fever, 40.0% had dyspnoea and 44.0% was lethargic. Multivariable regression model showed that the odds of being intubated among COVID-19 patients were significantly higher among older person (aged ?60 years) [adjusted odd ratio (aOR=3.9)], those who had hypertension (aOR =5.7), presented with fever (aOR=9.8), dyspnoea (aOR=9.6), and lethargy (aOR = 7.9). Conclusion: Old age, hypertension, and several presenting symptoms were strong risk factors for invasive ventilatory support among COVID-19 patients. They must be diagnosed early and monitored closely to improve clinical outcome. - PublicationFactors Associated with Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia(2021)
;Lim Kuang Kuay ;Ainul Nadziha Mohd Hanafiah ;Lee Soo Cheng ;Chan Ying Ying ;Mohd Shaiful Azlan Kassim ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Roslinda Abu Sapian ;Nurul Syarbani Eliana Musa ;Ridwan SanaudiMohamed Paid YusofIntroduction: The rapid spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide has led the World Health Organization to declare COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As the local studies on factors leading to the absence or presence of clinical illness among the COVID-19 cases are sparse, the study aims to determine the factors associated with asymptomatic COVID 19 patients in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: Data on COVID-19 patients were extracted from the database of confirmed cases in Petaling District Health Office, Selangor, Malaysia from 3rd February 2020 to 30th April 2020. An asymptomatic laboratory-confirmed case is a person infected with COVID-19 who does not develop any symptoms. The study included socio-demographic variables, the detailed information on clinical manifestations and co-morbidity of the patients. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with asymptomatic patients. Results: The overall COVID-19 patients in Petaling District were 434. Approximately 70% (n= 292) of the patients were symptomatic while 32.7% (n= 142) were asymptomatic. Multivple logistic regression analyses revealed that factors significantly associated with asymptomatic patients were age below 40 years old (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.11, 2.86), non-Malaysians (aOR: 3.22, 95% CI 1.44, 7.19) and local cases (aOR: 2.51, 95% CI 1.42, 4.42). Gender, ethnicity, co morbidity and township were not significantly associated with asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: Approximately one-third of COVID-19 patients were asymptomatic and the risk factors identified were younger age, non-Malaysians and local cases. Rigorous epidemiological investigation is helpful in identifying COVID-19 cases among these group of people who are asymptomatic. - PublicationFirst Local Transmission Cluster of COVID-19 in Malaysia: Public Health Response(International Travel Medicine Center of Iran, 2020)
;Noor Ani Ahmad ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Sunita Abd Rahman ;Muhammad Haikal bin Ghazali ;Ezy Eriyani Nadzari ;Zazarida Zakiman ;Suziana Redzuan ;Salina Md Taib ;Mohd Shaiful Azlan KassimWan Noraini Wan Mohamed NoorIntroduction: Rapid public health response is important in controlling the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we described the public health response received by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia in managing the first local transmission cluster of COVID-19 related to mass-gathering and inter-state traveling to celebrate a festival. Methods: We summarized strategies implemented by the Malaysia Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) in managing the first local transmission of COVID-19. We collected information related to the epidemiological investigation of this cluster and described the inter-state network in managing the outbreak. Results: This first local transmission of COVID-19 in Malaysia had a history of contact with her older brother, the index case, who was the first Malaysian imported case. Only two positive cases were detected out of 59 contacts traced from the index case. Close contacts with infected person/s, inter-state movement, and public/family gatherings were identified as the sources of transmission. A large number of contacts were traced from inter-state traveling, and family gatherings during the festive season, and health consultations and treatment. Conclusion: Close contacts from inter-state movement and public/family gatherings were identified as the source of transmission. Family or public gatherings during festivals or religious events should be prohibited or controlled in COVID-19 prevalent areas. A structured surveillance system with rapid contact tracing is significant in controlling the transmission of COVID-19 in the community. - PublicationPrevalence and Determinants of Depressive Symptoms among Young Adolescents in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study(2023)
;Sarbhan Singh ;Chee Herng Lai ;Nuur Hafizah Md Iderus ;Sumarni Mohd Ghazali ;Lonny Chen Rong Qi Ahmad ;Lim Mei Cheng ;Mohamad Nadzmi Nadzri ;Asrul Anuar Zulkifli ;Jeyanthi Suppiah ;Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki ;Nik Daliana Nik Farid ;Rama Krishna Supramanian ;Awatef Amer Nordin ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Kushilpal KaurNur’ain Mohd GhazaliDepression is the most common mental health problem affecting adolescents globally, wherein its increasing prevalence together with the negative health impacts escalates the need for further research in this area. This work determined the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among young adolescents in Malaysia. A total of 1350 adolescent aged 13 to 14 years in school across nine secondary schools in Selangor state, Malaysia participated in a cross-sectional study. Independent variables were examined using the using the Global School-Based Student Health Survey included age, gender, ethnicity, alcohol intake, smoking and illicit drug use, loneliness, bullying, parental marital status, income and supervision; and the Health Literacy and Stigma questionnaire examined mental health literacy levels. Depressive symptoms were the dependent variable which was examined using the Center for Epidemiology Study Depression (CESD) instrument. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among all participants was 19 % (95% CI [16.9, 21.2]), with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms being reported among females 26.3% (95% CI [23.0, 29.8]) compared to males 11.7% (95% CI [9.4, 14.4]). Determinants namely females (AOR = 3.83; 95% CI [2.66, 5.52]), smoking (AOR = 6.16; 95% CI [3.15, 12.05]), been bullied (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI [2.51, 5.47]), felt lonely (AOR = 10.46; 95% CI [7.09, 15.42]) and having no parental supervision (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI [1.26, 2.53]) significantly increased the odds of depressive symptoms among all adolescents in the multivariate model. In addition, feeling lonely, being bullied and smoking were identified as common significant determinants of depressive symptoms across both genders. Feeling lonely (65% to 71%) and being bullied (10% to 19%) were ranked as the most important determinants of depressive symptoms among young adolescents. Tackling these factors would be instrumental in helping decision makers formulate depression prevention strategies and activities for adolescents. - PublicationPrevalence and Factors Associated with Smoking Intentions among Non-smoking and Smoking Adolescents in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia(2014)
;Lim Kuang Hock ;Sumarni Mohamad Ghazali ;Kee Chee Cheong ;Lim Kuang Kuay ;Lim Hui Li ;Teh Chien Huey ;Chan Ying Ying ;Yeo Lay Yen ;Fiona Goh Swee Ching ;Khoo Yi Yi ;Chong Zhuo Lin ;Normala IbrahimAmal Nasir MustafaIntention to smoke is a valid and reliable factor for predicting future smoking habits among adolescents. This factor, however, has received inadequate attention in Malaysia. The present paper elaborates the prevalence and factors associated with intent to initiate or to cease smoking, among adolescent nonsmokers and smokers in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. A total of 2,300 secondary school students aged 13-16 years were selected through a two-stage stratified sampling method. A set of standardized questionnaires was used to assess the smoking behavior among adolescents and the inter-personal and intra-personal factors associated with smoking intention (intention to initiate smoking or to cease smoking). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors related to smoking intention. The prevalence of intention to smoke in the future or to cease smoking among non-smoking adolescents and current smokers were 10.7% and 61.7% respectively. Having friends who smoke, social influence, and poor knowledge about the ill effects on health due to smoking showed significant relationships with intention to smoke in the future among non-smokers. Conversely, perceived lower prevalence of smoking among peers, weak contributory social influence, and greater awareness of the ill effects of smoking are factors associated with the intention to cease smoking sometime in the future. The study found that prevalence of intention to initiate smoking is low among non-smokers while the majority of current smokers intended to cease smoking in the future. Existing anti-smoking programmes that integrate the factors that have been identified in the current study should be put in motion to reduce the prevalence of intention to initiate smoking and increase the intention to cease smoking among adolescents