In the week ending May 21, there were 701 deaths in the state. 22.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.3% were from cancer and 3.1% 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.
Missouri top 10 causes of death in week ending May 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 170 | 24.3 |
| Heart disease | 157 | 22.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 4.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 1.6 |
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