In the week ending July 29, there were 1,123 deaths in the state. 24.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and less than 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.2% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 272 | 24.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 254 | 22.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 68 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 63 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 50 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
Missouri Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 114 | 10.2 |
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