In the week ending May 7, there were 825 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 5.6% 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.
Massachusetts top 10 causes of death in week ending May 7
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 169 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 153 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 3.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 17 | 2.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.5 |
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