In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 2,144 deaths in the state. 23.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4% were from cancer and 11.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.6% 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.
New York state top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 511 | 23.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 416 | 19.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 142 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 96 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 90 | 4.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 39 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 36 | 1.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 36 | 1.7 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 184 | 8.6 |
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