In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 416 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 9.1% 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.
Iowa top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 94 | 22.6 |
| Heart disease | 85 | 20.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.4 |
Alerts Sign-up