In the week ending July 22, there were 1,783 deaths in the state. 23.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 1.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.4% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 414 | 23.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 375 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 73 | 4.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 43 | 2.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 36 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 33 | 1.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 28 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.6 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 167 | 9.4 |
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