In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 640 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 10.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.1% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 121 | 18.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 120 | 18.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 36 | 5.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 33 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 4.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 27 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 23 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 2.3 |
Connecticut Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 84 | 13.1 |
Alerts Sign-up