There were 20 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Iowa in the week ending Oct. 1, making up 4.7% of total deaths by all causes in Iowa, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 427 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 8.7% 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 | 96 | 22.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 95 | 22.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 6.6 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 22 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 2.3 |
