In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 926 deaths in the state. 23.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 2.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.3% 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 | 220 | 23.8 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 184 | 19.9 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 5.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 4.8 |
Alzheimer's disease | 38 | 4.1 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 2.3 |
Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 2.1 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 1.6 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 77 | 8.3 |