In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 378 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 8.5% 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.
Oregon top 10 causes of death in week ending Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 81 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 71 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 31 | 8.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 28 | 7.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 4.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 3.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.6 |
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