In the week ending March 12, there were 437 deaths in the state. 23.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.5% were from cancer and less than 2.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 103 | 110 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 81 | 91 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 24 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 18 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 10 | 24 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 24 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 29 |
Connecticut Dementia deaths in week ending March 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 43 | 62 |
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