In the week ending May 1, 2021, there were 1,600 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and 11.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 | 339 | 21.2 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 304 | 19 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 105 | 6.6 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 88 | 5.5 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 86 | 5.4 |
Alzheimer's disease | 77 | 4.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 4.4 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 2.9 |
Diabetes mellitus | 36 | 2.3 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 0.8 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 158 | 9.9 |