There were 21 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Arizona in the week ending Aug. 6, making up 2.2% of total deaths by all causes in Arizona, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 959 deaths in the state. 19.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 5.7% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 203 | 21.2 |
| Heart disease | 187 | 19.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 48 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 3.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.3 |
