There were 13 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending March 12, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending March 12, there were 92 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.6% were from cancer and 29.3% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 20 | 26 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 18 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
