In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 979 deaths in the state. 23.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.6% were from cancer and 7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 232 | 23.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 172 | 17.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 72 | 7.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 24 | 2.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 22 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.7 |
Maryland Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 97 | 9.9 |
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