There were 21 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Mississippi in the week ending Dec. 17, making up 3.6% of total deaths by all causes in Mississippi, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 588 deaths in the state. 23.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 5.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8% 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 | 136 | 23.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 117 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 41 | 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 29 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 28 | 4.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 21 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 1.9 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 7.8 |
