In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 310 deaths in the state. 25.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 4.5% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 78 | 25.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 68 | 21.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 7.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 14 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 4.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.2 |
Alerts Sign-up