In the week ending June 24, there were 1,877 deaths in the state. 24.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7% 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.
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 468 | 24.9 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 392 | 20.9 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 77 | 4.1 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 3.7 |
Diabetes mellitus | 42 | 2.2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 41 | 2.2 |
Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 2 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 26 | 1.4 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 1.2 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 0.6 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 163 | 8.7 |