In the week ending June 17, there were 1,230 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.7% were from cancer and 3.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 | 268 | 21.8 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 254 | 20.7 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 4.6 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 4.1 |
Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 3.7 |
Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 2.3 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 1.9 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.4 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 1.3 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.2 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 128 | 10.4 |