KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Allianz Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Malaysia) Group is supporting University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) in its ongoing clinical study on individuals who have had COVID-19 and the development of long-term symptoms or Long COVID.

The 31-month-long study, spearheaded by UMMC’s Dato’ Prof. Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, focuses on the assessment of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) in COVID patients and will culminate in December 2024.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Long COVID condition usually occurs in individuals three months after being infected with COVID-19, with symptoms, and can last up to two months. Common symptoms of long COVID include shortness of breath, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction, including problems with concertation and memory, as well as brain fog.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad Chief Executive Officer, Sean Wang, believes that supporting the study was crucial, as the endeavor would benefit the lives of Malaysians.

“Allianz Malaysia’s corporate responsibility initiatives have always centered on projects that would touch the lives and benefit our communities,  and have sustainable impact. Our commitment in supporting UMMC and Dato’ Prof. Dr. Adeeba’s study is an extension of that belief and our unwavering confidence in the university’s research prowess. We are confident that the study will play a crucial role in strengthening the understanding of long-term clinical care needs of COVID-19 survivors and more importantly the effects of Long COVID and the significant health and socioeconomic impact it would have, particularly with low-income communities in Malaysia.”

“UMMC is very much obliged to Allianz Malaysia support and initiative in this part, which will contribute positively towards the research of Long COVID in Malaysia. In line with the vision to establish UMMC as a leading teaching hospital with international repute committed in clinical research, this support will aid us in conducting the quality clinical research throughout our hospital. From this, the world will understand that its frailty may only be overcome by interdependence and cooperation with each other,” UMMC said.
 
“UMMC management is grateful to Allianz Malaysia for this support. UMMCs multidisciplinary research team which includes infectious diseases, respiratory, rehabilitation, geriatrics, primary care and public health physicians hope to be able to add to the gaps in our knowledge about Long COVID – particularly on how it affects our Malaysian patients,” Dr. Adeeba said.

COVID-19 which was discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020.  Based on WHO statistics, as of 26 September 2022, Malaysia has seen over four million COVID-19 positive cases, and more than 36 thousand deaths.¹