There were 16 deaths from diabetes mellitus reported in Iowa in the week ending Oct. 29, making up 3.8% of total deaths by all causes in Iowa, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 418 deaths in the state. 23.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 6.7% were from COVID-19.
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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 100 | 23.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 83 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 5 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 19 | 4.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 3.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.4 |
