There were less than 10 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in Hawaii in the week ending Oct. 29, making up less than 10.4% of total deaths by all causes in Hawaii, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 96 deaths in the state. 12.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 14.6% were from cancer
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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 14 | 14.6 |
| Heart disease | 12 | 12.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10.4 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
