In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 1,218 deaths in the state. 18.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.4% were from cancer and 7.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.8% 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) | 248 | 20.4 |
Heart disease | 226 | 18.6 |
Alzheimer's disease | 73 | 6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 5.7 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 5 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 54 | 4.4 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 41 | 3.4 |
Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 3.2 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 36 | 3 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 0.8 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 144 | 11.8 |