In the week ending July 9, there were 362 deaths in the state. 30.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.6% were from cancer and 8.3% 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.
Louisiana top 10 causes of death in week ending July 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 112 | 30.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 71 | 19.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 6.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 14 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 2.8 |
Alerts Sign-up