In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 804 deaths in the state. 22.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 6.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 16.5% 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 | 183 | 22.8 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 158 | 19.7 |
Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 5.5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 4.6 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 3.7 |
Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 3.4 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 2.7 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 2.2 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.2 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 133 | 16.5 |