In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 663 deaths in the state. 16.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 10.6% 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 Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 150 | 22.6 |
| Heart disease | 110 | 16.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 7.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 44 | 6.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 5.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Alerts Sign-up