There were 20 deaths with diabetes mellitus listed as the underlying cause reported in Massachusetts during the week ending June 11, 2022, a 23.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 11, 2022, there were 1,030 deaths in the state. 17.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 6.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.7% 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 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 226 | 243 |
| Heart disease | 181 | 181 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 41 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 54 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 33 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 38 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 29 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 26 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 18 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 131 | 122 |
