In the week ending July 15, there were 761 deaths in the state. 23.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.2% were from cancer and less than 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 176 | 23.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 146 | 19.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 54 | 7.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 37 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.3 |
Oklahoma Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 85 | 11.2 |
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