There were 43 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in Mississippi in the week ending July 1, making up seven% of total deaths by all causes in Mississippi, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 1, there were 614 deaths in the state. 22.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.7% were from cancer and less than 1.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% 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 | 136 | 22.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 115 | 18.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 7 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 30 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 52 | 8.5 |
