In the week ending July 29, there were 1,378 deaths in the state. 15.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 271 | 19.7 |
| Heart disease | 213 | 15.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 51 | 3.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 47 | 3.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 0.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Arizona Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 139 | 10.1 |
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