In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 680 deaths in the state. 23.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.2% were from cancer and less than 1.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.9% 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 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 162 | 23.8 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 158 | 23.2 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 6.2 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 5.7 |
Alzheimer's disease | 30 | 4.4 |
Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 3.7 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 2.1 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.9 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 74 | 10.9 |