In the week ending June 18, there were 675 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 4.9% 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.
Indiana top 10 causes of death in week ending June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 148 | 21.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 143 | 21.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 63 | 9.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 21 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
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