In the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, there were 2,267 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.5% were from cancer and 8.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.2% 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. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 521 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 396 | 17.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 121 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 119 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 82 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 71 | 3.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 64 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 40 | 1.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 35 | 1.5 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 208 | 9.2 |
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