There were 14 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 22, 2022, there were 185 deaths in the state. 15.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.7% were from cancer and 7.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.1% 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 Oct. 22, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 42 | 36 |
| Heart disease | 28 | 36 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 13 | 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 15 | 12 |
