Browsing by Author "Kuang Kuay Lim"
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- PublicationAssociation of physical activity with blood pressure and blood glucose among Malaysian adults: a population-based study(2015)
;Chien Huey Teh ;Ying Ying Chan ;Kuang Hock Lim ;Chee Cheong Kee ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Pei Sien Yeo ;Omar Azahadi ;Yusoff Fadhli ;Aris Tahir ;Han Lim LeeWasi Ahmad NazniBackground: The health-enhancing benefits of physical activity (PA) on hypertension and diabetes have been well documented for decades. This study aimed to determine the association of PA with systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as blood glucose in the Malaysian adult population. Methods: Data were extracted from the 2011 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a nationally representative, cross-sectional study. A two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select a representative sample of 18,231 Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above. The PA levels of the respondents were categorised as low, moderate or high according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short form. Blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels were measured using a digital blood pressure-measuring device and finger-prick test, respectively. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) level was positively associated with PA level (p = 0.02) whilst no significant association was noted between PA level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In contrast, respondents with low (adjusted coefficient = 0.17) or moderate (adjusted coefficient = 0.03) level of PA had significantly higher blood glucose level as compared to those who were highly active (p = 0.04). Conclusions: A significant negative association was observed between PA level and blood glucose only. Future studies should employ an objective measurement in estimating PA level in order to elucidate the actual relationship between PA, hypertension and diabetes for the development of effective interventions to combat the increasing burden of premature-mortality and cardiovascular disease-related morbidity in Malaysia. - PublicationAwareness of body mass index and its associated factors: A cross-sectional study(2022)
;Yong Kang Cheah ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Hasimah Ismail ;Ruhaya Salleh ;Chee Cheong Kee ;Kuang Hock LimYoon Ling CheongThis study explores the correlates of sociodemographic factors, smoking, and caloric knowledge to body mass index awareness with a focus on Malaysia. Logistic regressions were estimated to examine sociodemographic factors associated with body mass index awareness. More than half of respondents were unaware of their body mass index (54.8%). Age was negatively associated with body mass index awareness. Adults without formal education were less likely to know their body mass index than those with tertiary‐level education. Adults were less likely to be aware of their body mass index if they engaged in smoking. Adults with knowledge of the definition of calories were more aware of their body mass index than others. The findings emphasize the urgent need for a forthcoming sociodemographic factors‐specific policy directed toward improving body mass index awareness to lower the prevalence of obesity in Malaysia. - PublicationIodine status among pregnant women in rural Sabah, Malaysia(2017)
;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Ying Ying Chan ;Chien Huey Teh ;Hasimah Ismail ;Rafidah Yusof ;Jamail Muhi ;Kuang Hock LimLeng Huat FooBackground and Objectives: In 2000, legislation on mandatory universal salt iodisation was enacted in Sabah, Malaysia, to reduce the incidence of iodine deficiency disorders among its population. To evaluate the iodine lev els among pregnant women from selected rural divisions in Sabah 13 years after the enactment of the universal salt iodisation programme. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 May to 30 June, 2013, in three rural divisions of Sabah (the Interior, the West Coast, and Kudat). Data regarding domestic iodised salt use and iodine-containing supplement consumption were obtained from respondents through face-to-face interviews; goitre enlargement was examined through palpation and graded according to the World Health Organization classification. Spot urine samples were also obtained to assess urinary iodine levels by using an in-house modified micromethod. Results: In total, 534 pregnant women participated. The prevalence of goitre was 1.0% (n=5), noted only in the West Coast and Kudat divisions. Although all pregnant women consumed io dised salt, overall median urinary iodine concentration was only 106 µg/L, indicating insufficient iodine intake, with nearly two-thirds of the women (60%) having a median urinary iodine concentrations of <150 µg/L Conclusions: Pregnant women from the rural divisions in Sabah still exhibit iodine deficiency disorder despite the mandatory universal salt iodisation programme. Iodine supplementation programmes targeting pregnant women are warranted. - PublicationIodized salt supplementation and its effects on thyroid status amongst Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia(2013)
;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Ming Wong ;Wan Nazaimoon Wan MohamudNor Azmi KamaruddinBackground: This research was performed to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and the effects of iodized salt supplementation on thyroid status amongst Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: Study respondents were from three target groups, i.e. pre-school children (PSC), primary school-going children (SGC) and adult women. Each household was supplied with iodized salt fortified with iodate fortificant for a period of 12 months and the iodine levels in the salt ranged from 20 to 30 µg/L. Samples collected before and after 6 and 12 months of introduction to iodized salt were urine from all groups, as well as serum samples from adult women. Results: A total of 200 respondents were recruited; 58 (29.0%) PSC, 65 (32.5%) SGC and 77 (38.5%) adult women. The median urine-iodine concentration (mUIC) in all groups were of moderately low before the iodized salt intervention, but increased significantly in all study groups after 6 and 12 months of intervention. However, at the end of the study, there was an increase in severe iodine deficiency (mUIC <20 µg/L) from 7.5% to 12% and about 9% of PSC and SGC respondents had mUIC level of more than 300 µg/L while the adult women showed a significant increase in free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that iodized salt supplementation was able to show an improvement in iodine level amongst Orang Asli. However, an increase in severe iodine deficiency and iodine excess indicated that the iodized salt programme needs to be carefully monitored. - PublicationOccupational Disease and Injury in Malaysia: A Thematic Review of Literature from 2016 to 2021(2023)
;S. Maria Awaluddin ;Maznieda Mahjom ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Noor Syaqilah Shawaluddin ;Tuan Mohd Amin Tuan LahIssam A. Al-KhatibIntroduction. Working people are exposed to occupational hazards and are at risk of having occupational disease or injury in a rapidly industrializing country like Malaysia. This study aims to review and summarize the occupational disease and injury in Malaysia from 2016 to 2021. Methods. This study used PubMed and Scopus databases to conduct a systematic literature search using a set of keywords. The selected records dated from 1 January 2016 to 8 September 2021 were extracted into the Mendeley Desktop and ATLAS.ti 8 software. Systematic screening was conducted by two independent researchers and finalized by the third researcher. Data were coded and grouped according to the themes. The results were presented as the table for descriptive analysis and cross-tabulation between the themes. Results. A total of 120 records were included in this study. Under the theme of main health problems, the findings showed that mental health, infectious disease, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the top three problems being discussed in the literature for the working people in Malaysia. The findings also showed an increasing trend of mental health problems during pandemic COVID-19 years. In addition, hospital was the highest workplace where the occupational health problems were reported.Discussion/Conclusion. There was substantial work on the mental health problem, infectious diseases, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders as the main health problem among workers in Malaysia in the past five years. The employers must report any occupational health and injury case to the authority and prompt intervention can be initiated. - PublicationPhysical activity and overweight/obesity among Malaysian adults: findings from the 2015 National Health and morbidity survey (NHMS)(2017)
;Ying Ying Chan ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Kuang Hock Lim ;Chien Huey Teh ;Chee Cheong Kee ;Siew Man Cheong ;Yi Yi Khoo ;Azli Baharudin ;Miaw Yn Ling ;Mohd Azahadi OmarNoor Ani AhmadBackground: Overweight and obesity are growing health problems both worldwide and in Malaysia due to such lifestyle changes as decreased physical activity (PA), increased sedentary behavior and unhealthy eating habits. This study examined the levels and patterns of PA among normal-weight and overweight/obese adults and to investigate the association between PA level and overweight/obesity in Malaysian adults. Methods: This study used data from the 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a nationwide cross-sectional survey that implemented a two-stage stratified random sampling design. Respondents aged 18 years and above (n = 17,261) were included in the analysis. The short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was administered to assess the respondents’ PA levels. The respondents’ height and weight were objectively measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The respondents were categorized according to BMI as either normal-weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2 ) or overweight/obese (≥ 25 kg/m2 ). Descriptive and complex sample logistic regression analyses were employed as appropriate. Results: Overall, approximately 1 in 2 respondents (51.2%) were overweight/obese, even though the majority (69.0%) reporting at least a moderate level of PA (total PA ≥ 10 MET-hours/week). In both normal-weight and overweight/obese groups, a significantly higher prevalence of high PA (total PA ≥ 50 MET-hours/week) was observed among men than women (p < 0.001), but women reported a significantly higher prevalence of low and moderate PA than men (p < 0.001). Men reported significantly higher activity levels (in MET-hours/week) than women with regard to walking, vigorous-intensity PA and total PA (p < 0.001). Overweight/obese men reported a significantly lower level of vigorous-intensity PA and total PA than normal-weight men (p < 0.001). A low level of PA was associated with the risk of overweight/obesity (Adjusted OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01–1.30) compared to a high level of PA among men but not among women. Conclusions: The levels of PA were inversely related to the risk of overweight/obesity in men but not in women. Programs designed to reduce overweight/obesity rates should encourage the practice of moderate to vigorous-intensity PA. Future research should consider using longitudinal and prospective approaches that simultaneously measure dietary intake, PA and BMI among Malaysian adults to investigate the actual relationship between PA and overweight/obesity. - PublicationPrevalence and correlates of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015(Elsevier, 2019)
;Ying Ying Chan ;Rajini Sooryanarayana ;Noraida Mohamad Kasim ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Siew Man Cheong ;Chee Cheong Kee ;Kuang Hock Lim ;Mohd Azahadi Omar ;Noor Ani AhmadNoran Naqiah Mohd HairiMalaysia has an increasingly aging population. Despite the substantial benefits of physical activity for healthy aging, older adults are considered the most physically inactive segment of the Malaysian population. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia and its correlates. We analysed data on adults aged ≥60 years (n = 3790) from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, a cross-sectional, nationwide population-based survey covering information on sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity and other lifestyle-related variables, health conditions, and functional limitations. Individuals included in this study were classified as physically active or physically inactive. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with physical inactivity. The overall prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults aged ≥60 years old was 48.8%. Physical inactivity was significantly more prevalent among females, older age groups, Indians, those being single/widowed/divorced, those with no formal education, those who reported high sedentary time (≥7 h/day), those with diabetes, anaemia, and functional limitations (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted analyses, females, older age, high household income (≥MYR4000), inadequate fruits and vegetables consumption (< 5 servings/day), high sedentary time, having diabetes, and having mobility impairment were all associated with physical inactivity. Approximately half of the Malaysian older population are physically inactive. Identifying the correlates of physical inactivity among Malaysian older adults will help to develop public health policies and interventions that encourage active living among older people and promote healthy aging in Malaysia - PublicationPrevalence of Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Associated Factors Among the Malaysian Population: The 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey, Malaysia(2018)
;Hasimah Ismail ;Mohd Azahadi Omar ;Thamil Arasu Saminathan ;Muhammad Fadhli Muhammad Yusof ;Nor Azian Mohd Zaki ;Kuang Kuay LimTahir ArisBACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes has increased dramatically in the last decade. Compounding the problem are undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus. These respondents are those who do not know that they have the disease. Undiagnosed cases have substantial implications as they are at more risk to develope fatal complications. This study aims to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM and to identify its associated factors in Malaysia. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted involving 19,935 respondents. Two-stage stratified sampling design was used to select a representative sample of the Malaysian adult population. Face-to-face interviews using structured, validated questionnaires were used to obtain data from the respondents. Respondents who claimed that they were not diagnosed with diabetes before were asked to undergo a finger-prick test. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of T2DM was 17.5% while the prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM was 9.2% (n=2103). Respondents aged 60 years old & above had the highest percentage of undiagnosed T2DM at about 13.6 %, followed by those with no formal educational at 12.9%, among Indians were 11.9%, among female at 9.2%, among non-working citizen at 9.8%, widowed/divorced (12.0%), smokers (9.5%), obesity (13.6%) and hypertensive (12.8%). Multivariable analyses revealed that age group, ethnicity, education level, marital status, obesity and hypertensive were more likely to have undiagnosed T2DM. CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM in Malaysia. Factors associated with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus were obesity, age, ethnicity, educational level and hypertension. Screening is essential among adults aged 30 to 60 year old to enable early intervention and prevent development of serious complications of this disease. - PublicationSmoking susceptibility among non-smoking school-going adolescents in Malaysia: findings from a national school-based survey(2019)
;Kuang Hock Lim ;Sumarni Mohd Ghazali ;Hui Li Lim ;Kee Chee Cheong ;Chien Huey Teh ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Pei Pei Heng ;Yong Kang CheahJia Hui LimObjective: The identification of susceptible non-smoking adolescents is an essential step in reducing smoking initiation among adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with smoking susceptibility among non-smoking school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary and secondary schools in Malaysia. Participants: 11 246 non-smoking school-going adolescents. Outcome measures: The prevalence and factors associated with smoking susceptibility among non-smoking school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Results: Approximately 14% of non-smokers were susceptible to smoking, and the prevalence of susceptibility was significantly higher among males, ever-smokers and e-cigarette users. The odds of susceptibility to smoking were higher among males, e-cigarette users, those aged 12 years and under and those who had ever smoked or tried cigarettes. Students from schools with educational programmes on the health effects of second-hand smoke (SHS) and who perceived smoking to be harmful were less likely to be susceptible to smoking. Conclusion: Smoking susceptibility is prevalent among school-going adolescents. A comprehensive approach that enhances or reinforces health education programmes on the adverse health effects of smoking and SHS among school children, that considers multiple factors and that involves all stakeholders is urgently needed to reduce the prevalence of smoking susceptibility among vulnerable subgroups, as identified from the present findings. - PublicationStages of Smoking Cessation among Malaysian Adults - Findings from National Health Morbidity Survey 2006(2013)
;Kuang Hock Lim ;Normala Ibrahim ;Sumarni Mohd Ghazali ;Chee Cheong Kee ;Kuang Kuay Lim ;Ying Ying Chan ;Chien Huey Teh ;Eng Ong Tee ;Wai Yee Lai ;Mohd. Haniki Nik MohamadSherina Mohd SidekIncreasing the rate of smoking cessation will reduce the burden of diseases related to smoking, including cancer. Understanding the process of smoking cessation is a pre-requisite to planning and developing effective programs to enhance the rate of smoking cessation.The aims of the study were to determine the demographic distribution of smokers across the initial stages of smoking cessation (the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages) and to identify the predictors of smoking cessation among Malaysian adult smokers. Data were extracted from a population-based, cross-sectional survey carried out from April 2006 to July 2006. The distribution of 2,716,743 current smokers across the pre-contemplation stage (no intention to quit smoking in the next six months) or contemplation stage (intended to quit smoking in the next six months) was described. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and the stages of smoking cessation. Of the 2,716,743 current smokers, approximately 30% and 70% were in the pre-contemplative and contemplative stages of smoking cessation respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that male gender, low education level, older age group, married and those from higher income group and number of cigarettes smoked were associated with higher likelihood of pre-contemplation to cease smoking in the next six months. The majority of current smokers in Malaysia were in the contemplative stage of smoking cessation. Specific interventions should be implemented to ensure the pre-contemplative smokers proceed to the contemplative stage and eventually to the preparation stage.