In the week ending May 1, 2021, there were 545 deaths in the state. 18% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 13.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% 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 May 1, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 114 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 98 | 18 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 40 | 7.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 33 | 6.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 28 | 5.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 3.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.8 |
Connecticut Dementia deaths in week ending May 1, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 8.4 |
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