There were 24 deaths with cerebrovascular disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Iowa during the week ending Sept. 24, 2022, a 84.6% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 24, 2022, there were 595 deaths in the state. 24.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 5.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 147 | 143 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 120 | 114 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 32 | 25 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 29 | 24 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 13 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 21 | 29 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 16 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 18 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 62 | 70 |
