In the week ending July 1, there were 947 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and less than 1.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8% 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.
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 206 | 21.8 |
Heart disease | 200 | 21.1 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 6.4 |
Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 3.4 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 2.5 |
Alzheimer's disease | 15 | 1.6 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.1 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.1 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 74 | 7.8 |