In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 438 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% were from cancer and 7.5% 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.
Oklahoma top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 102 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 92 | 21 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 34 | 7.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 17 | 3.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.3 |
Alerts Sign-up