There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Arkansas in the week ending July 29, 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 29, there were 638 deaths in the state. 24.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and less than 1.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10% 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 | 156 | 24.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 121 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 33 | 5.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 5 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 31 | 4.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 2.2 |
| 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 | 64 | 10 |
