In the week ending July 9, there were 617 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.3% were from cancer and 7.8% were from COVID-19.
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.
Tennessee top 10 causes of death in week ending July 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 156 | 25.3 |
| Heart disease | 114 | 18.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 35 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.6 |
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