There were less than 10 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in South Dakota in the week ending May 1, 2021, making up less than 7% of total deaths by all causes in South Dakota, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 1, 2021, there were 143 deaths in the state. 18.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.5% were from cancer and 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 26 | 18.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 25 | 17.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 7 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 7 |
