In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,330 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and 4.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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.
Arizona top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 272 | 20.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 267 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 70 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 63 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 62 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 40 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.1 |
Arizona Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 139 | 10.5 |
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