There were 15 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Iowa during the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, a 44.4% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, there were 642 deaths in the state. 24.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 3.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.3% 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. 15, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 156 | 112 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 125 | 131 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 34 | 22 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 25 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 23 | 31 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 24 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 27 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 24 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 15, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 66 | 60 |
