In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 909 deaths in the state. 16.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.5% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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 | 154 | 16.9 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 141 | 15.5 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 6.1 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 4.7 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 4 |
Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 3.7 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 25 | 2.8 |
Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 2.2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 89 | 9.8 |