In the week ending July 23, there were 463 deaths in the state. 26.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.4% were from cancer and 16.2% 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 July 23
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 123 | 26.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 85 | 18.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 46 | 9.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 6.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 5.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.2 |
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