There were 16 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Nevada in the week ending Aug. 6, making up 5.1% of total deaths by all causes in Nevada, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 315 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.1% were from cancer and 12.1% 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) | 79 | 25.1 |
| Heart disease | 56 | 17.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 6.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 13 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3.8 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | 3.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3.2 |
