There were 17 deaths from influenza and pneumonia reported in Massachusetts in the week ending Aug. 5, making up 1.6% of total deaths by all causes in Massachusetts, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,049 deaths in the state. 15.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 233 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 167 | 15.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 48 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 34 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 2.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 118 | 11.2 |
