In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 1,411 deaths in the state. 24.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.5% were from cancer and 8.6% 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 Sept. 17
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 344 | 24.4 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 331 | 23.5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 94 | 6.7 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 73 | 5.2 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 5 |
Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 3.9 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 48 | 3.4 |
Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 2.4 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 31 | 2.2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 0.8 |