In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 677 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23% were from cancer and 7.4% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 156 | 23 |
| Heart disease | 125 | 18.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 41 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 38 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 19 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
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