In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 2,220 deaths in the state. 22.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 10% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 501 | 22.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 432 | 19.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 132 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 120 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 91 | 4.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 83 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 78 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 2.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 50 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 41 | 1.8 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 202 | 9.1 |
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