In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 208 deaths in the state. 14.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 5.3% 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.
New Mexico top 10 causes of death in week ending Sept. 24
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 42 | 20.2 |
Heart disease | 30 | 14.4 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 5.8 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 5.3 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 4.8 |
Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 4.8 |
Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 4.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 4.8 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 4.8 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | 0 |