In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 571 deaths in the state. 26.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.9% were from cancer and 11.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.7% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 150 | 26.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 91 | 15.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 37 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 37 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 5.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 4.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 21 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.8 |
Iowa Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 78 | 13.7 |
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