In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 772 deaths in the state. 19.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 7.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 16.5% 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.
Oregon top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 150 | 19.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 146 | 18.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 41 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 36 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 24 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.3 |
Oregon Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 127 | 16.5 |
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