PETALING JAYA: As many as 85% of Malaysians claim that their level of knowledge of cholesterol-related issues ranges from “average to good,” according to a recent survey.
The State of Health of the Nation perception survey conducted online nationwide in December 2022, was designed to be representative of the overall population by location, gender, and race.
Conducted by The Green Zebras on behalf of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Novartis, a pharmaceutical company, the survey polled 500 Malaysians aged between 40 and 64 years.
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The not-so-good news is that cholesterol myths are still prevalent, with 75% saying there would be symptoms if a person has high cholesterol, which is untrue.
In a statement, MMA said the survey also found other misconceptions about cholesterol, such as that cholesterol could be managed through a change in lifestyle (92%), while only 40% believe that cholesterol could only be controlled with medication.
Slightly more than half (56%) of the respondents aged from 40 to 60 assumed that cholesterol testing was needed at least every five years or more frequently, and 49% disagreed that someone within a healthy weight range could actually have unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Despite these misconceptions, most Malaysians (89%) are aware that poorly managed high cholesterol levels could lead to severe diseases such as cardiovascular diseases that include stroke and heart problems, with 84% of the respondents wishing for easier ways to manage high cholesterol.
MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said while the response in the survey showed that Malaysians claimed to be well-informed on cholesterol, there were some fallacies in their sentiments.
He said there were no symptoms for high cholesterol and that a blood test was the only way to detect it.
The recommended cholesterol screenings for adults between 45 to 65 years are every one to two years and should be done annually for those above 65, he added.
“Therefore, taking charge of your health and doing regular health screenings is relatively important. Do not wait to visit the doctor when you feel unhealthy or unwell, everything may be too late.
“I strongly advise them not to rely on health-related information from friends, family, and social media only as these are often skewed through the sharing process,” he said in a statement.
Mohamed ElWakil, country president of Novartis Malaysia, said many people were unaware that cholesterol was one of the silent killers, along with high blood pressure and diabetes.
“There are no obvious symptoms. However, cholesterol can be managed if it is detected early.
“Following the doctor’s recommended treatment plan and lifestyle changes may help prevent severe heart-related problems.
“In fact, there are now easier and more convenient treatment plans available. Patients should actively seek the best treatment options from their doctors.”
