In the week ending May 15, 2021, there were 685 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 7.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.2% 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 May 15, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 150 | 21.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 144 | 21 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 29 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 3.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Arkansas Dementia deaths in week ending May 15, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 63 | 9.2 |
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