There were less than 10 deaths from influenza and pneumonia reported in Arkansas in the week ending July 22, making up less than 1.6% of total deaths by all causes in Arkansas, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 22, there were 625 deaths in the state. 25.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and less than 1.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.4% 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 | 157 | 25.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 123 | 19.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 6.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 29 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 20 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 46 | 7.4 |
