In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,008 deaths in the state. 22.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.5% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9% 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 |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 247 | 24.5 |
Heart disease | 228 | 22.6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 62 | 6.2 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 6.1 |
Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.7 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 32 | 3.2 |
Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 2.6 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.7 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 90 | 8.9 |