In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 955 deaths in the state. 17.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 8.3% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 212 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 168 | 17.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 45 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 34 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 29 | 3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.4 |
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