In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 1,043 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 5.8% 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 Oct. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 221 | 21.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 220 | 21.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 49 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 39 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 1.5 |
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