In the week ending June 24, there were 752 deaths in the state. 27.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and less than 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.6% 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 | 206 | 27.4 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 149 | 19.8 |
Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 6.5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 4.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 4.1 |
Alzheimer's disease | 21 | 2.8 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 2.3 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.3 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.3 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.3 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 57 | 7.6 |