In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 1,115 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 8.7% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 238 | 21.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 230 | 20.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 65 | 5.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 62 | 5.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 35 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 27 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.3 |
Alerts Sign-up