In the week ending July 8, there were 1,872 deaths in the state. 24% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.1% 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 July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 449 | 24 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 418 | 22.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 71 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 60 | 3.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 2.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 42 | 2.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 26 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.5 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 133 | 7.1 |
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