There were 64 deaths with cerebrovascular disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Arizona during the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, a 18.5% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, there were 1,236 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 4.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 254 | 249 |
| Heart disease | 247 | 245 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 64 | 54 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 52 | 45 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 49 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 33 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 39 | 52 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 33 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 16 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 122 | 108 |
