There were 15 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Oklahoma in the week ending Aug. 6, making up 3.3% of total deaths by all causes in Oklahoma, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 455 deaths in the state. 25.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 8.4% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 117 | 25.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 95 | 20.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 20 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.2 |
