There were less than 10 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in Idaho in the week ending Oct. 15, making up less than 4.6% of total deaths by all causes in Idaho, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 219 deaths in the state. 18.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.7% were from cancer and less than 4.6% were from COVID-19.
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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 41 | 18.7 |
| Heart disease | 40 | 18.3 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 11 | 5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 4.6 |
