In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 515 deaths in the state. 24.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 9.5% 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 Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 124 | 24.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 106 | 20.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 4.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 3.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.9 |
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