In the week ending March 26, 2022, there were 990 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.3% were from cancer and 11.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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 March 26, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending March 19, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 217 | 235 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 171 | 204 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 71 | 77 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 58 | 41 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 70 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 45 | 54 |
Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 39 |
Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 39 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 14 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 26, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending March 19, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 100 | 97 |