In the week ending July 15, there were 1,272 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.7% were from cancer and 2.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8% 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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 255 | 20 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 225 | 17.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 67 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 48 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 0.9 |
Arizona Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 102 | 8 |
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