There were 32 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Rhode Island during the week ending March 5, a 30.4% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending March 5, there were 166 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 6.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.7% 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 March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 34 | 34 |
| Heart disease | 32 | 46 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 0 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 21 | 22 |
