In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 670 deaths in the state. 23.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.1% were from cancer and 4.3% 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 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 160 | 23.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 121 | 18.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 44 | 6.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 18 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 2.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.6 |
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