In the week ending July 2, there were 563 deaths in the state. 16.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and 7.5% 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.
Colorado top 10 causes of death in week ending July 2
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 113 | 20.1 |
| Heart disease | 95 | 16.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 41 | 7.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 3.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.8 |
Alerts Sign-up