In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 260 deaths in the state. 18.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 6.2% 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.
Idaho top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 58 | 22.3 |
| Heart disease | 48 | 18.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 18 | 6.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 10 | 3.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.8 |
Alerts Sign-up