In the week ending July 2, there were 853 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 8.7% 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 July 2
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 185 | 21.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 184 | 21.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 35 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.4 |
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