There were 146 deaths with heart disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Iowa during the week ending Oct. 29, 2022, no changes from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 29, 2022, there were 608 deaths in the state. 24% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4% were from cancer and 6.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.3% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 146 | 146 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 118 | 118 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 30 | 20 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 28 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 22 | 32 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 24 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 16 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 27 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 69 | 70 |
