There were less than 10 deaths with diabetes mellitus listed as the underlying cause reported in Delaware during the week ending March 12, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending March 12, there were 152 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.4% were from cancer and 6.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 17.1% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 28 | 25 |
| Heart disease | 27 | 25 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 14 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 11 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 26 | 12 |
