In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 1,204 deaths in the state. 20.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.5% were from cancer and 8.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.4% 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 Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 252 | 20.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 223 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 71 | 5.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 67 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 57 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 42 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 24 | 2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 0.9 |
Wisconsin Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 113 | 9.4 |
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