There were 117 deaths from cancer reported in Mississippi in the week ending July 22, making up 20.5% of total deaths by all causes in Mississippi, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 22, there were 571 deaths in the state. 26.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 149 | 26.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 117 | 20.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 36 | 6.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 30 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 23 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.8 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 40 | 7 |
