In the week ending June 17, there were 1,243 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 1% 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 | 270 | 21.7 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 269 | 21.6 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 77 | 6.2 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 74 | 6 |
Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 3.7 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 35 | 2.8 |
Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 2.5 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 23 | 1.9 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 1 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.8 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 103 | 8.3 |