In the week ending July 2, there were 290 deaths in the state. 24.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.3% were from cancer and 3.8% 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.
Utah top 10 causes of death in week ending July 2
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 71 | 24.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 53 | 18.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 19 | 6.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 14 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
Alerts Sign-up