In the week ending Aug. 27, 2022, there were 395 deaths in the state. 18% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17% were from cancer and less than 2.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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. 27, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 71 | 73 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 67 | 57 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 14 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 14 | 22 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 12 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 13 |
Utah Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 27, 2022
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 27, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 20, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 36 | 37 |
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