In the week ending July 22, there were 828 deaths in the state. 19.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and 1.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 191 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 162 | 19.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 28 | 3.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 79 | 9.5 |
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