There were less than 10 deaths with chronic lower respiratory disease listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending May 7, 2022, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 7, 2022, there were less than 10 deaths in the state.
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 May 7, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | 0 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 0 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 0 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 0 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | < 10 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 0 | < 10 |
| Heart disease | 0 | 12 |
