There were 33 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Massachusetts in the week ending May 14, making up 3.9% of total deaths by all causes in Massachusetts, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 14, there were 848 deaths in the state. 17.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 8.4% were from COVID-19.
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) | 167 | 19.7 |
| Heart disease | 146 | 17.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 33 | 3.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 29 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 27 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.8 |
