In the week ending March 5, there were 659 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.3% were from cancer and 10.5% were from COVID-19.
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.
Maryland top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 140 | 21.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 127 | 19.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 38 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.5 |
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