In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 375 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 12.5% were from cancer and less than 2.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.3% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 88 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 47 | 12.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 6.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 21 | 5.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 3.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 2.7 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 50 | 13.3 |
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