In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 636 deaths in the state. 23.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 3.6% 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.
Alabama top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 22
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 151 | 23.7 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 139 | 21.9 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 6.6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 6 |
Alzheimer's disease | 27 | 4.2 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 2.4 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.9 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 1.9 |
Diabetes mellitus | 11 | 1.7 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.7 |