In the week ending July 2, there were 653 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.8% were from cancer and 6.3% 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 July 2
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 162 | 24.8 |
| Heart disease | 126 | 19.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 36 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Alerts Sign-up