There were 48 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Rhode Island during the week ending June 17, a 4.3% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 17, there were 207 deaths in the state. 23.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 20.8% were from cancer
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 June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 48 | 46 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 43 | 50 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | < 10 |
