There were 29 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in Oklahoma during the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, a 12.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, there were 750 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 11.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 159 | 178 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 152 | 145 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 60 | 52 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 60 | 61 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 26 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 33 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 15 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 21 | 25 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 59 | 73 |
