In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 575 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.1% were from cancer and 8.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.7% 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 Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 121 | 21 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 110 | 19.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 30 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 4.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 4.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 2.1 |
Iowa Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 67 | 11.7 |
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