In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 815 deaths in the state. 22.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 5.9% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 184 | 22.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 176 | 21.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 6.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 5.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.8 |
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