There were 44 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Massachusetts during the week ending May 15, no changes from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 15, there were 1,097 deaths in the state. 19 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8 percent were from cancer and 8.4 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6 percent 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 2021-05-15 | Number of Deaths 2021-05-08 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 239 | 261 |
| Heart disease | 208 | 173 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 54 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 44 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 46 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 41 | 47 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 35 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 26 | 21 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 22 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-05-15 | Number of Deaths 2021-05-08 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 105 | 124 |
