There were 25 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in Nevada in the week ending Sept. 17, making up 7.6% of total deaths by all causes in Nevada, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 329 deaths in the state. 16.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and less than 3% 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) | 75 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 55 | 16.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 7.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 14 | 4.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 3 |
