In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 571 deaths in the state. 26.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.9% were from cancer and 11.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.7% 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 | 150 | 26.3 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 91 | 15.9 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 37 | 6.5 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 37 | 6.5 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 5.3 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 4.4 |
Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 4.4 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 3.7 |
Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 2.6 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.8 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 78 | 13.7 |