There were 12 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Tennessee during the week ending June 24, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 24, there were 1,475 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 324 | 307 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 287 | 299 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 79 | 76 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 77 | 84 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 62 | 52 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 44 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 19 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 32 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 126 | 137 |
