In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 713 deaths in the state. 19.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 27.1% were from cancer and 9.8% 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 Aug. 27
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 193 | 27.1 |
| Heart disease | 140 | 19.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 5.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 5.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 22 | 3.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 2.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.4 |
Alerts Sign-up