There were 29 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Massachusetts during the week ending Aug. 6, 2022, a 45% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 6, 2022, there were 1,197 deaths in the state. 15.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.5% were from cancer and 6.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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 Aug. 6, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 269 | 222 |
| Heart disease | 190 | 198 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 50 | 31 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 42 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 40 | 24 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 35 | 31 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 20 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 26 | 19 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 26 | 30 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 17 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 6, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 115 | 125 |
