In the week ending July 16, there were 1,686 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.7% were from cancer and 6.5% 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.
New York state top 10 causes of death in week ending July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 382 | 22.7 |
| Heart disease | 370 | 21.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 78 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 76 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 64 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 45 | 2.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 41 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 35 | 2.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 2 |
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