In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 952 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.9% were from cancer and 8.3% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 228 | 23.9 |
| Heart disease | 176 | 18.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 5.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 49 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 47 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 3.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.1 |
Alerts Sign-up