In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 669 deaths in the state. 16.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and less than 1.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 142 | 21.2 |
| Heart disease | 112 | 16.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 44 | 6.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 23 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.5 |
Oregon Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 70 | 10.5 |
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