In the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, there were 135 deaths in the state. 13.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.2% were from cancer and less than 7.4% 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 Aug. 27, 2022
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 34 | 24 |
Heart disease | 18 | 33 |
Alzheimer's disease | 11 | < 10 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 0 |
Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |