There were 25 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending Sept. 3, 2022, a 31.6% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 3, 2022, there were 121 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24% were from cancer and 9.1% 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 Sept. 3, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 29 | 36 |
| Heart disease | 25 | 19 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 11 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
