In the week ending July 15, there were 507 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 21.7% were from cancer Additionally, 9.7% 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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 110 | 21.7 |
| Heart disease | 100 | 19.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 18 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 12 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
Kansas Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 49 | 9.7 |
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