Gem State Wire

There were 16 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in Idaho in the week ending May 29, making up five percent of total deaths by all causes in Idaho, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending May 29, there were 321 deaths in the state. 18.1 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1 percent were from cancer and 9.7 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8 percent 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.

Cause of Death	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor)	74	23.1
Heart disease	58	18.1
Cerebrovascular diseases	17	5.3
Chronic lower respiratory diseases	16	5
COVID-19 (multiple cause)	16	5
COVID-19 (underlying cause)	15	4.7
Alzheimer's disease	11	3.4
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis	< 10	< 3.1
Diabetes mellitus	< 10	< 3.1
Influenza and pneumonia	0	0

Cause of Death	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
Alzheimer disease and dementia	25	7.8