In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 1,757 deaths in the state. 24.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.2% were from cancer and 8.4% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 432 | 24.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 338 | 19.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 87 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 79 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 77 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 60 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 50 | 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 39 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 36 | 2 |
Alerts Sign-up