There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Arkansas in the week ending June 17, 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 June 17, there were 627 deaths in the state. 24.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.5% were from cancer and less than 1.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.5% 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 | 153 | 24.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 116 | 18.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 5.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 4 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 23 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 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 | 47 | 7.5 |
