There were 11 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Tennessee in the week ending June 17, making up 0.7% of total deaths by all causes in Tennessee, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 17, there were 1,502 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 307 | 20.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 299 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 84 | 5.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 76 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 52 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 32 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 137 | 9.1 |
