In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 37 deaths in the state. Less than 27% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 35.1% were from cancer
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.
Alaska top 10 causes of death in week ending Sept. 17
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 13 | 35.1 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 27 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 27 |
Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 27 |
Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 27 |
Heart disease | < 10 | < 27 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 0 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 0 | 0 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |