In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 458 deaths in the state. 17.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.5% 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.
Utah top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 86 | 18.8 |
| Heart disease | 80 | 17.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 25 | 5.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 4.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.2 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 48 | 10.5 |
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