In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 499 deaths in the state. 22.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and 2.2% 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. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 111 | 22.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 109 | 21.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 49 | 9.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 23 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 2.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2 |
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