There were 54 deaths from cancer reported in New Hampshire in the week ending Aug. 5, making up 22.2% of total deaths by all causes in New Hampshire, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 243 deaths in the state. 16.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and less than 4.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.5% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 54 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 40 | 16.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 6.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 4.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 11 | 4.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 4.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 4.1 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 28 | 11.5 |
