In the week ending June 18, there were 859 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and 6.9% 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.
The state of Washington top 10 causes of death in week ending June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 196 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 186 | 21.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 59 | 6.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 51 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 37 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.2 |
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