There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Tennessee in the week ending July 29, making up less than 0.7% of total deaths by all causes in Tennessee, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 29, there were 1,427 deaths in the state. 18.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 292 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 267 | 18.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 75 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 72 | 5 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 63 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 46 | 3.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 28 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 142 | 10 |
