In the week ending July 9, there were 602 deaths in the state. 22.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 4.7% 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 July 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 137 | 22.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 130 | 21.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 46 | 7.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 33 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.7 |
Alerts Sign-up