In the week ending March 5, there were 578 deaths in the state. 17.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 14.4% were from cancer and 11.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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.
Colorado top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 102 | 120 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 83 | 122 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 77 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 26 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 38 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 40 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 55 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
Colorado Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 65 | 65 |
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