In October 2024, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health released a report that found hepatitis C was associated with death at an earlier age in Hawaiʻi. Premature Deaths and Disparities Associated with Hepatitis C: The Hawaiʻi Hepatitis C Mortality Report analyzed mortality data from 2000 to 2021 to understand the burden of hepatitis C infections on local communities.

The findings will guide efforts to improve liver health and reduce preventable deaths. The most important findings from the report include:

• People with hepatitis C die at a younger age than the general population. Most (88%) Hawaiʻi residents with hepatitis C-related deaths did not reach age 75, which was lower than the U.S. life expectancy in 2021.
• Many deaths occur before retirement age. Among Hawaiʻi residents with hepatitis C-associated deaths, more than 40% died before the average retirement age of 65 years (as compared to 23% for all causes of death).
• Progress is being made. Hepatitis C death rates were lower than the national average from 2017 to 2020, with 2.63 deaths per 100,000 in Hawaiʻi compared to 3.45 per 100,000 in the U.S. in 2020. However, disparities in death rates were observed for male and white residents in Hawaiʻi.

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