In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 459 deaths in the state. 22.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.4% were from cancer and 6.8% 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.
Kentucky top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 112 | 24.4 |
| Heart disease | 105 | 22.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 6.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.2 |
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