In the week ending March 12, there were 1,222 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 11.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 281 | 322 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 272 | 273 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 80 | 111 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 66 | 87 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 69 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 65 |
Alzheimer's disease | 49 | 62 |
Diabetes mellitus | 43 | 47 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 30 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 17 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 97 | 128 |