There were less than 10 deaths from influenza and pneumonia reported in Connecticut in the week ending July 8, making up less than 1.8% of total deaths by all causes in Connecticut, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 8, there were 571 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% were from cancer and less than 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7% 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 | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 133 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 108 | 18.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 20 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 17 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 61 | 10.7 |
