In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 587 deaths in the state. 22.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 6.1% 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.
Iowa top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 131 | 22.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 117 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.7 |
Iowa Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 58 | 9.9 |
Alerts Sign-up