In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 100 deaths in the state. 24% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and less than 10% 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.
Montana top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 13
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 24 | 24 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 20 | 20 |
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 | < 10 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |