In the week ending July 29, there were 1,972 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 1.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 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 | 428 | 21.7 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 427 | 21.7 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 5.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 73 | 3.7 |
Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 2.9 |
Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 2.6 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 41 | 2.1 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 1.4 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 13 | 0.7 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 0.5 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 158 | 8 |