In the week ending July 8, there were 1,153 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2% 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.
The state of Washington top 10 causes of death in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 237 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 227 | 19.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 62 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 48 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
The state of Washington Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 95 | 8.2 |
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