In the week ending Oct. 8, 2022, there were 803 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 7.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 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.
Oklahoma top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 8, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 165 | 199 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 163 | 154 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 62 | 33 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 37 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 28 | 37 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 27 | 25 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 22 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 11 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
Oklahoma Dementia deaths in week ending Oct. 8, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 72 | 70 |
Alerts Sign-up