In the week ending July 8, there were 987 deaths in the state. 23.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% 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.
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 231 | 23.4 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 192 | 19.5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 5.2 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 4.3 |
Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 3.1 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.5 |
Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 1.4 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 87 | 8.8 |