There were 287 deaths with cancer listed as the underlying cause reported in Indiana during the week ending Oct. 8, 2022, a 2.5% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 8, 2022, there were 1,444 deaths in the state. 21.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 4.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 309 | 293 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 287 | 280 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 84 | 84 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 73 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 43 | 40 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 42 | 46 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 47 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 32 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 19 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 138 | 122 |
