In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 775 deaths in the state. 22.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 10.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.3% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 173 | 22.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 157 | 20.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 57 | 7.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 52 | 6.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 38 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 32 | 4.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 29 | 3.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 21 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.8 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 103 | 13.3 |
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