There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in New Mexico during the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, there were 337 deaths in the state. 18.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8% were from cancer and less than 3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.7% 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. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 63 | 68 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 60 | 59 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 15 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 14 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 15 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 18 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 26 | 34 |
