In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 846 deaths in the state. 19.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 26% were from cancer and 6.5% 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. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 220 | 26 |
| Heart disease | 162 | 19.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 59 | 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 5.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.4 |
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