In the week ending July 8, there were 655 deaths in the state. 27.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.7% were from cancer and less than 1.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% 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 July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 179 | 27.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 116 | 17.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 4.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 3.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 56 | 8.5 |
Alerts Sign-up