In the week ending July 1, there were 827 deaths in the state. 27.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and less than 1.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 229 | 27.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 161 | 19.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 47 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 36 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 4.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
Louisiana Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 73 | 8.8 |
Alerts Sign-up