In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 674 deaths in the state. 26.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4% were from cancer and 7.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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.
Oklahoma top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 176 | 26.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 131 | 19.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 8.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 4.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 3.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 21 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Oklahoma Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 64 | 9.5 |
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