In the week ending June 18, there were 782 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.8% were from cancer and 7.8% 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 June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 163 | 20.8 |
| Heart disease | 145 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 4.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 3.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 28 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 27 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.7 |
Alerts Sign-up