There were 239 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Arizona during the week ending June 11, 2022, a 1.3% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 11, 2022, there were 1,083 deaths in the state. 22.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and 5.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.8% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 239 | 236 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 206 | 231 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 64 | 52 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 53 | 55 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 49 | 57 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 31 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 33 | 33 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 25 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 12 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 16 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 128 | 123 |
