‘Stroke Riskometer’ debuts
“I believe this app is another tool for us to prevent stroke,” said Health Ministry Medical Development Division director Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar
By Fatimah Zainal
In an attempt to reverse worrying health trends in the nation, doctors are trying something new.
The first ever Malay-language smartphone application that allows users to calculate their risk of stroke was launched at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in Malaysia last Thursday.
There are two versions of The Stroke Riskometer. A Lite version uses 20 scientifically tested questions for anyone between the ages of 20 and over 90 to calculate the risk of suffering a stroke in the next five to 10 years.
It can also indicate risks for a heart attack, dementia and diabetes. For a small fee, users can upgrade to the Pro version to get personalised advice, save and track results, access to videos and e-mailed results.
Over the past few years, the Government has struggled to reduce red flags in Malaysian healthcare trends, said UKM medical faculty dean Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy.
She said that an estimated 40,000 Malaysians suffer a stroke each year, with six new cases cropping up every hour.
UKMMC Neurology Unit and the university developed a Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language) version of The Stroke Riskometer, an award-winning app from Auckland University of Technology.
Health Ministry Medical Development Division director Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar said it was important to raise awareness among tech-savvy young people and highlight the need for early treatment and prevention.
“I believe this app is another tool for us to prevent stroke but Malaysians must make a commitment to a healthy lifestyle,” he said in his speech at the launching of the app here.
Student Nur Syazwani Ainaa Rahamzan, 22, said: “As a medical student, if any of my family members are high risk, I can advise them on the next steps to take.”
The app is free for download for Android and iOS users, and can be found at Google Play and the App Store.
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