In the week ending March 5, there were 876 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5% were from cancer and 13.1% were from COVID-19.
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.
Michigan top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 197 | 22.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 21.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 66 | 7.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 49 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 47 | 5.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 45 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 40 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.4 |
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