In the week ending March 5, there were 545 deaths in the state. 23.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 14.9% were from cancer and 16.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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.
Arkansas top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 127 | 139 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 81 | 106 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 104 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 41 | 91 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 42 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 20 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 25 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 24 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 15 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 12 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 52 | 47 |
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