There were 21 deaths with chronic lower respiratory disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Nevada during the week ending May 7, 2022, a 23.5% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 7, 2022, there were 315 deaths in the state. 23.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.1% were from cancer and 3.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.6% 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 May 7, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 75 | 118 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 57 | 89 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 17 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 18 | 28 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 10 | 16 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 15 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending May 7, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 24 | 31 |
