In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 1,589 deaths in the state. 25.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 8.7% 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. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 404 | 25.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 354 | 22.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 90 | 5.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 87 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 81 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 80 | 5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 53 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 46 | 2.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 1.1 |
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