In the week ending June 24, there were 865 deaths in the state. 19.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and less than 1.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.4% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 178 | 204 |
Heart disease | 172 | 143 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 46 |
Alzheimer's disease | 35 | 36 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 37 |
Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 23 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 10 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 14 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 99 | 93 |