New data reveals dementia and Alzheimers are prevalent in COVID fatalities

The report found that of the 9,500 people who died from COVID in Canada from March 1 to July 31, 42 percent of women and 33 percent of men, had dementia or Alzheimers. 90 percent also had at least one other condition. The early consensus is that the prevalence of these conditions is related to the prominence of older individuals succumbing to COVID.

Not only does COVID target older individuals more, but due to a number of unfortunate factors, a significant amount of long term care facilities were impacted by the virus. Statistics Canada confirms that over half of long term care residents above 85 years-old, live with dementia.

In this sense, it is not entirely surprising to see the prevalence of these conditions in the data. Individuals older than 65 accounted for 94 percent of first wave COVID deaths in Canada.

There are also a number of other contributing complications related to first wave deaths. Pneumonia accounts for 33 percent, while Hypertensive diseases account for 15 percent. Ischemic heart disease, Respiratory failure, Renal failure, and Diabetes all account for around 12 percent each.