There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Maine in the week ending Nov. 12, making up less than 3.1% of total deaths by all causes in Maine, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 325 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and 5.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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) | 74 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 58 | 17.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 23 | 7.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 15 | 4.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3.1 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | 0 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 34 | 10.5 |
