In the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, there were 534 deaths in the state. 22.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 Oct. 22, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 119 | 112 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 95 | 110 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 32 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 19 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 23 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 18 | 18 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 12 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 11 |
Kansas Dementia deaths in week ending Oct. 22, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 53 | 65 |
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