In the week ending April 30, there were 296 deaths in the state. 26% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.6% were from cancer and less than 3.4% 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 April 30
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 77 | 26 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 70 | 23.6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 11.5 |
Alzheimer's disease | 17 | 5.7 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 4.1 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.4 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3.4 |
Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3.4 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.4 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 3.4 |