In the week ending May 22, there were 145 deaths in the state. 19.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.9 percent were from cancer and less than 6.9 percent 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.
South Dakota top 10 causes of death in week ending May 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-05-22 | Number of Deaths 2021-05-15 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 28 | 24 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 23 | 30 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 11 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
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