In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 962 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.1% were from cancer and 4.2% 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.
Arizona top 10 causes of death in week ending Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 203 | 21.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 184 | 19.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 62 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1.1 |
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