In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 1,058 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.6% were from cancer and 6.7% 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 Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 231 | 21.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 197 | 18.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 59 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 52 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 45 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 24 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 1.7 |
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