There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Delaware in the week ending May 15, 2021, making up less than 5.7% of total deaths by all causes in Delaware, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 15, 2021, there were 175 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 5.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 37 | 21.1 |
| Heart disease | 33 | 18.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 8.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 6.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 11 | 6.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 5.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 5.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 5.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 5.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 14 | 8 |
