In the week ending July 16, there were 902 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 8.9% 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 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 194 | 21.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 176 | 19.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 5.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 37 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 35 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 32 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.1 |
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