In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 393 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.6% were from cancer and less than 2.5% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 74 | 18.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 69 | 17.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 5.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 13 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 2.5 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 44 | 11.2 |
Alerts Sign-up