In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 456 deaths in the state. 18.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 11.8% 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.
Kansas top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 97 | 21.3 |
| Heart disease | 84 | 18.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 6.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 23 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 22 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 4.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 3.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 3.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 2.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.2 |
Alerts Sign-up