In the week ending July 23, 2022, there were 1,212 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.8% were from cancer and 8.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.8% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 16, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 254 | 264 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 252 | 260 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 68 | 76 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 63 | 70 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 63 | 52 |
Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 51 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 42 | 38 |
Diabetes mellitus | 40 | 39 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 29 | 23 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | < 10 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 16, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 131 | 128 |