In the week ending July 1, there were 921 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and less than 1.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 213 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 198 | 21.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 4.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 2.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 22 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 73 | 7.9 |
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