In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 351 deaths in the state. 19.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.1% were from cancer and 6.3% 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 Aug. 20
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 67 | 19.1 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 53 | 15.1 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 22 | 6.3 |
Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 3.7 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 3.4 |
Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 3.1 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 2.8 |
Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.8 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.8 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 2.8 |