There were 15 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Mississippi in the week ending June 24, making up 2.5% of total deaths by all causes in Mississippi, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 24, there were 611 deaths in the state. 23.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18% were from cancer and 2.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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 | 142 | 23.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 110 | 18 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 33 | 5.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 58 | 9.5 |
