There were 15 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Nevada during the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, a 15.4% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, there were 541 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 5.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% of deaths were from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
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 Oct. 15, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 115 | 98 |
| Heart disease | 114 | 133 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 29 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 27 | 21 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 21 | 14 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 15 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 39 |
