There were 11 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Hawaii during the week ending June 4, 2022, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 4, 2022, there were 205 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.1% were from cancer and 5.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.2% of deaths were from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 43 | 48 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 31 | 45 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 13 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 25 | 24 |
