There were 38 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Arizona in the week ending Aug. 13, making up four% of total deaths by all causes in Arizona, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 949 deaths in the state. 20.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 6.6% 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) | 214 | 22.6 |
| Heart disease | 192 | 20.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 44 | 4.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 43 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 25 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.1 |
