There were 25 deaths with chronic lower respiratory disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Nevada during the week ending May 15, 2021, a 7.4% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 15, 2021, there were 541 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.8% were from cancer and 9.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.2% 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 15, 2021 | Deaths in Week Ending May 8, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 127 | 116 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 91 | 105 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 32 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 36 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 27 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 29 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 19 | 15 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 12 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending May 15, 2021 | Deaths in Week Ending May 8, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 39 | 41 |
