In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 831 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.7% were from cancer and 4.8% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 197 | 23.7 |
| Heart disease | 172 | 20.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 53 | 6.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.2 |
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