In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 937 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.4% were from cancer and 4.8% 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.
Arizona top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 219 | 23.4 |
| Heart disease | 190 | 20.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 52 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 5.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 43 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.1 |
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