There were 61 deaths from cerebrovascular diseases reported in Arizona in the week ending July 23, making up 6.2% of total deaths by all causes in Arizona, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 23, there were 987 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4% were from cancer and 8.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 200 | 20.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 191 | 19.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 51 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 43 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 36 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1 |
