In the week ending April 30, there were 977 deaths in the state. 26.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5% were from cancer and 5.1% 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 Jersey top 10 causes of death in week ending April 30
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 259 | 26.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 210 | 21.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 43 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 27 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1 |
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