In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 1,652 deaths in the state. 24.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% 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.
New York state top 10 causes of death in week ending Sept. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 398 | 24.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 348 | 21.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 72 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 64 | 3.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 50 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 41 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 35 | 2.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 1.3 |
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