In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 726 deaths in the state. 22.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22% were from cancer and 4.8% 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 Oct. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 161 | 22.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 160 | 22 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 7.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.4 |
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