In the week ending May 28, 2022, there were 926 deaths in the state. 27.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 1.1% 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 May 28, 2022
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 21, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 258 | 225 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 184 | 170 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 53 |
Alzheimer's disease | 41 | 48 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 41 | 54 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 23 |
Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 22 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 11 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 12 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |