There were 17 deaths from influenza and pneumonia reported in Iowa in the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, making up 2.7% of total deaths by all causes in Iowa, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, there were 626 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.4% were from cancer and 11.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 147 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 115 | 18.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 6.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 33 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 22 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.6 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 62 | 9.9 |
