In the week ending June 17, there were 1,891 deaths in the state. 24.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 2.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.1% 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 June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 457 | 24.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 421 | 22.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 88 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 46 | 2.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 33 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 0.8 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 153 | 8.1 |
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