There were 28 deaths with chronic lower respiratory disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Kansas during the week ending May 28, 2022, a 55.6% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 28, 2022, there were 467 deaths in the state. 22.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.1% were from cancer and 5.1% were from COVID-19.
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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 21, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 106 | 100 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 80 | 97 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 18 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 25 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 16 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 14 |
