There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Kansas during the week ending May 21, 2022, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 21, 2022, there were 41 deaths in the state. Less than 24.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease and less than 24.4% were from cancer
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 21, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 14, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 15 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 14 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | < 10 | 61 |
| Heart disease | < 10 | 65 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 16 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | < 10 |
