There were 15 deaths with chronic lower respiratory disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Maine during the week ending June 17, a 21.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 17, there were 282 deaths in the state. 18.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and less than 3.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.3% 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 June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 59 | 65 |
| Heart disease | 52 | 54 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 15 | 19 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 29 | 31 |
