There were 10 deaths with diabetes mellitus listed as the underlying cause reported in Delaware during the week ending March 5, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending March 5, there were 137 deaths in the state. 15.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.5% were from cancer and 8.8% were from COVID-19.
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 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 24 | 49 |
| Heart disease | 21 | 32 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 17 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 11 | 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 16 |
