In the week ending March 5, there were 426 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16% were from cancer and 8.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.3% 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.
Connecticut top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 93 | 92 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 68 | 80 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 20 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 34 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 28 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 20 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 20 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 12 |
Connecticut Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 44 | 66 |
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