There were less than 10 deaths with influenza and pneumonia listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending Jan. 15, an increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Jan. 15, there were 67 deaths in the state. 20.9 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease and 20.9 percent were from cancer
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 2022-01-15 | Number of Deaths 2022-01-08 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 14 | 20 |
| Heart disease | 14 | 17 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 0 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 0 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | < 10 |
