There were 53 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Indiana during the week ending Nov. 12, 2022, a 10.2% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Nov. 12, 2022, there were 1,297 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 Nov. 12, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Nov. 5, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 292 | 295 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 262 | 260 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 81 | 103 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 63 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 53 | 59 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 44 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 41 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 35 | 42 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 15 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Nov. 12, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Nov. 5, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 129 | 134 |
