In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 1,048 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.9% were from cancer and 7.3% 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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 250 | 23.9 |
| Heart disease | 228 | 21.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 49 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 27 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.5 |
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