In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 754 deaths in the state. 23.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.9% were from cancer and 10.9% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 24.9 |
| Heart disease | 176 | 23.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 46 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 34 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.6 |
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