There were 22 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in Nevada in the week ending July 15, making up 4.4% of total deaths by all causes in Nevada, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 15, there were 497 deaths in the state. 23.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and less than 2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 6.4% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 115 | 23.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 100 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 22 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 2.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 2 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 32 | 6.4 |
