In the week ending March 5, there were 394 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.5% were from cancer and 25.1% 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.
Mississippi top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 82 | 20.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 61 | 15.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 56 | 14.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 43 | 10.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 8.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 5.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.5 |
Alerts Sign-up