There were 67 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in New Mexico during the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, a 5.6% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, there were 326 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8% were from cancer and 8.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 67 | 71 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 58 | 70 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 21 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 14 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 16 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | 17 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 34 | 27 |
