In the week ending May 28, 2022, there were 1,010 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 6.9% 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 May 28, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 21, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 214 | 238 |
| Heart disease | 195 | 193 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 70 | 47 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 57 | 59 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 51 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 40 | 28 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 29 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 13 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
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