In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 1,473 deaths in the state. 27.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 9.6% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 402 | 27.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 313 | 21.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 83 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 67 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 63 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 58 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 46 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.1 |
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