There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Hawaii in the week ending Dec. 24, making up less than 5.5% of total deaths by all causes in Hawaii, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 181 deaths in the state. 17.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and less than 5.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.3% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 36 | 19.9 |
| Heart disease | 31 | 17.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 5.5 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 24 | 13.3 |
