HONOLULU (KHON2) — In a significant finding during Liver Cancer Awareness Month, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has released a report indicating that hepatitis C is associated with premature deaths in the state.
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Titled “Premature Deaths and Disparities Associated with Hepatitis C: The Hawaii Hepatitis C Mortality Report,” the study analyzed mortality data from 2000 to 2021 to shed light on the impact of hepatitis C on local communities.
This comprehensive report reveals some striking statistics:
- Residents with hepatitis C tend to die at a younger age than the general population, with 88% not reaching the age of 75—well below the U.S. life expectancy of 2021.
- More than 40% of those who died from hepatitis C-related causes passed away before reaching the average retirement age of 65, compared to 23% for all causes of death.
- On a positive note, death rates from hepatitis C in Hawai‘i were lower than the national average from 2017 to 2020, with 2.63 deaths per 100,000 residents versus 3.45 per 100,000 nationally in 2020. However, disparities were noted among male and white residents.