In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 719 deaths in the state. 23.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 5.8% 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 Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 171 | 23.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 159 | 22.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 39 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 36 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 3.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1.5 |
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