In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 1,034 deaths in the state. 19.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 9.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.2% 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.
Kentucky top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 202 | 19.5 |
| Heart disease | 201 | 19.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 63 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 51 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 39 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 30 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.4 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 95 | 9.2 |
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