In the week ending July 22, there were 420 deaths in the state. 18.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and less than 2.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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 July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 80 | 19 |
| Heart disease | 78 | 18.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 21 | 5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 3.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 13 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 2.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 2.4 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 47 | 11.2 |
Alerts Sign-up