In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 1,808 deaths in the state. 23.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 10.2% 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. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 426 | 23.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 339 | 18.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 112 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 79 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 73 | 4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 68 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 52 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 42 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.8 |
Alerts Sign-up