In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 614 deaths in the state. 29.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16% were from cancer and 5.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 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 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 183 | 29.8 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 98 | 16 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 8.5 |
Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 4.2 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 4.2 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 3.7 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 3.6 |
Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 3.6 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 2.4 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 2.1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 55 | 9 |