In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,148 deaths in the state. 18.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 9.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.6% 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.
Wisconsin top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 227 | 19.8 |
| Heart disease | 213 | 18.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 69 | 6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 4.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 39 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 1.7 |
Wisconsin Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 122 | 10.6 |
Alerts Sign-up