In the week ending June 18, there were 638 deaths in the state. 17.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.3% were from cancer and 9.2% were from COVID-19.
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.
Minnesota top 10 causes of death in week ending June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 155 | 24.3 |
| Heart disease | 111 | 17.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 43 | 6.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 33 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 30 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
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