There were 16 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Hawaii during the week ending Nov. 5, 2022, a 60% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Nov. 5, 2022, there were 259 deaths in the state. 16.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and less than 3.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.6% 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 Nov. 5, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 56 | 44 |
| Heart disease | 43 | 40 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 17 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 16 | 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Nov. 5, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 30 | 31 |
