In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 795 deaths in the state. 24.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.4% were from cancer and 5.4% 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.
Wisconsin top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 194 | 24.4 |
| Heart disease | 193 | 24.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 61 | 7.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 2.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.3 |
Alerts Sign-up