In the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, there were 385 deaths in the state. 19% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 14.8% were from cancer and 6.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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. 20, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 73 | 74 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 57 | 74 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 22 | 16 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 13 | 15 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 11 | 15 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 20 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 20, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 13, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 37 | 25 |
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