There were 15 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Nevada in the week ending Oct. 29, making up 4.1% of total deaths by all causes in Nevada, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 365 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.7% were from cancer and 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 90 | 24.7 |
| Heart disease | 75 | 20.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 6.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 20 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.7 |
