In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 401 deaths in the state. 21.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.5% were from cancer and 8.2% 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 Oct. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 86 | 21.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 74 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 7.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 15 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.5 |
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