There were 12 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in New Mexico in the week ending Aug. 13, making up 4.8% of total deaths by all causes in New Mexico, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 249 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 10.4% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 54 | 21.7 |
| Heart disease | 51 | 20.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | 4.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 12 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 | 4.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
