In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,044 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 9.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7% 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. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 214 | 20.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 196 | 18.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 68 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 65 | 6.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 38 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 3.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 3.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 32 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 2.6 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 91 | 8.7 |
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