In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 1,204 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 10.7% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 243 | 20.2 |
| Heart disease | 237 | 19.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 72 | 6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 5.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 64 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 57 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 3.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 0.8 |
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