In the week ending July 9, there were 493 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 5.9% 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.
Arkansas top 10 causes of death in week ending July 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 116 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 100 | 20.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 8.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 30 | 6.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 27 | 5.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2 |
Alerts Sign-up