In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 625 deaths in the state. 26.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.2% were from cancer and 9.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.1% 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.
Oklahoma top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 168 | 26.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 101 | 16.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 8.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 6.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 4.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.6 |
Oklahoma Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 82 | 13.1 |
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