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.
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 220 | 225 |
Heart disease | 216 | 208 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 43 | 52 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 39 |
Alzheimer's disease | 39 | 29 |
Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 27 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 16 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 99 | 90 |