In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 1,116 deaths in the state. 19.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.7% were from cancer and 5.4% 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. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 219 | 19.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 209 | 18.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 58 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 54 | 4.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.5 |
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