In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,133 deaths in the state. 17.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.1% were from cancer and 2.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 273 | 24.1 |
| Heart disease | 202 | 17.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 57 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 1.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 1.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
The state of Washington Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 121 | 10.7 |
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