In the week ending April 30, there were 677 deaths in the state. 23.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 1.8% 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.
Georgia top 10 causes of death in week ending April 30
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 158 | 23.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 146 | 21.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 41 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 5.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 35 | 5.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Alerts Sign-up