In the week ending July 29, there were 1,013 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7% 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 July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 216 | 21.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 214 | 21.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 44 | 4.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
Wisconsin Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 88 | 8.7 |
Alerts Sign-up