There were less than 10 deaths with influenza and pneumonia listed as the underlying cause reported in Delaware during the week ending April 16, 2022, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending April 16, 2022, there were 134 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 27.6% were from cancer and less than 7.5% 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 April 16, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 9, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 37 | 27 |
| Heart disease | 29 | 32 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 0 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
