In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 1,059 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.3% were from cancer and 4.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.7% 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.
Maryland top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 223 | 21.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 194 | 18.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 62 | 5.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 40 | 3.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 33 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 28 | 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 0.9 |
Maryland Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 103 | 9.7 |
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