In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 1,978 deaths in the state. 24.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.1% were from cancer and 7.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.4% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 481 | 24.3 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 377 | 19.1 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 123 | 6.2 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 89 | 4.5 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 85 | 4.3 |
Diabetes mellitus | 74 | 3.7 |
Alzheimer's disease | 68 | 3.4 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 56 | 2.8 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 36 | 1.8 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1.3 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 147 | 7.4 |