In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 541 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.6% were from cancer and 11.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.2% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 118 | 21.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 95 | 17.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 36 | 6.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 5.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 27 | 5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 3.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 18 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.8 |
Kansas Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 66 | 12.2 |
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