In the week ending May 14, there were 1,058 deaths in the state. 26.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.2% were from cancer and 6.7% 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 May 14
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 283 | 26.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 193 | 18.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 41 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 33 | 3.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 2.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
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