In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 709 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.5% were from cancer and 5.8% 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 Sept. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 181 | 25.5 |
| Heart disease | 151 | 21.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 48 | 6.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 39 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 28 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 3.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.4 |
Alerts Sign-up