The age-standardised death rate for Australians with dementia recorded on their death certificates fell during the first 10 months of 2020, probably as a result of measures designed to prevent COVID-19 infections also limiting the spread of other infectious respiratory diseases. However, fatal COVID-19 outbreaks involved many people with dementia – 257 (30%) of the 858 people who died due to COVID-19 during this period had dementia recorded on their death certificate.
- Cat. no: DEM 1
Findings from this report:
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The rate of deaths of Australians with dementia was lower during the first 10 months of 2020 than in recent years
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20,875 Australians died with dementia during the first 10 months of 2020
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Fewer people with dementia died due to influenza or pneumonia during the first 10 months of 2020 than in recent years
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Measures designed to prevent COVID-19 infections probably also led to lower dementia death rates in 2020