In the week ending March 5, there were 499 deaths in the state. 17.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.8% were from cancer and 17.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 14.2% 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.
Kansas top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 88 | 86 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 79 | 89 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 51 | 63 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 52 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 29 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 29 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 14 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 15 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 14 |
Kansas Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 71 | 53 |
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