In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 520 deaths in the state. 25.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 8.1% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 132 | 25.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 115 | 22.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 7.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 5.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.9 |
Alerts Sign-up