In the week ending June 17, there were 1,059 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.8% were from cancer and less than 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.3% 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 June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 220 | 20.8 |
| Heart disease | 216 | 20.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 43 | 4.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 3.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 39 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
Wisconsin Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 99 | 9.3 |
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