In the week ending August 21, there were 216 deaths in the state. 21.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.5 percent were from cancer and 16.2 percent 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.
Delaware top 10 causes of death in week ending August 21
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 55 | 25.5 |
| Heart disease | 46 | 21.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 8.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 8.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 7.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 4.6 |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
!RECEIVE ALERTS
The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Alerts Sign-up