KUALA LUMPUR: The excess mortality rate among Malays was higher compared to the Chinese community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Shubash Shander Ganapathy, who heads the Institute of Public Health's research centre unit, said this was due to a lower prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors and a better level of health practice among the Chinese.
Dr Shubash said the Malays recorded a surplus of 11,158 fatalities compared to the Chinese community with -4,054 in excess mortality, followed by Indians at -565 and others at 1,375.
"Why there is a huge difference between the Malays and Chinese can be based on the National Health Morbidity Survey 2019, where the Chinese community reported a higher level of health literacy throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The obesity rate and NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension among the Chinese were also lower," he said at the Excess Mortality During Covid-19 Pandemic In Malaysia webinar with the media briefing today.
Dr Shubash said the Chinese recorded a high compliance rate of the 3Ws (wash, wear and warn) as suggested by the Health Ministry to lower the Covid-19 transmission among the public, starting early last year.
He said that the early stages of Covid-19 in mid-2020 saw high compliance across three races, Malays, Chinese and Indians, based on research by the National Institute of Health.
"Compliance from the Malays on the 3Ws dropped from 96 per cent in mid 2020 to 74.7 per cent in early 2021. It was the same among the Indian community from 94.3 per cent to 74.7 per cent in the same period.
"Only the Chinese remained high even with a drop from 95.6 per cent to 84.8 per cent."
Dr Shubash said the analysis of excess mortality in Malaysia showed that during the period between March 2020 and June 2021, there was a reduced number of cases coming into hospitals, which resulted in a reduced number of deaths in hospitals.
He, however, said the number of deaths occurring outside of hospitals showed no increase.
"During the period from July to December last year, there was an increase in deaths occurring both in hospitals and outside hospitals.
"The final numbers show that almost 55 per cent of excess deaths occurred in hospitals, compared to 45 per cent of excess deaths happening outside hospitals.
"This is the same percentage of deaths recorded in hospitals and outside hospitals, prior to Covid-19 in Malaysia. This indicates that there has been no change in the pattern of seeking healthcare services, and being able to obtain these services in Malaysia throughout the pandemic," he said.