There were less than 10 deaths from influenza and pneumonia reported in Maine in the week ending July 8, making up less than 3% of total deaths by all causes in Maine, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 8, there were 330 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 21.5% were from cancer Additionally, 11.8% 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) | 71 | 21.5 |
| Heart disease | 68 | 20.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 7.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 14 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 39 | 11.8 |
