With more than 15 thousand deaths, dementia was again the main cause of death among the Dutch in 2016. In particular, more men died of dementia, compared to a year earlier. More people also died as a result of a fall. This is evident from provisional figures on causes of death from Statistics Netherlands.
With nearly 15,4 thousand deaths, 7 percent more than in 2015, dementia is once again at the top of the list. In women, dementia is the main cause of death with more than 10 thousand deaths (+ 5 percent). Mortality from dementia increased especially among men; this was 11 percent higher last year than one year previously. With more than 5 thousand deaths, dementia is the most common cause of death after lung cancer in men.
The difference between men and women when it comes to dementia as a cause of death is largely related to a difference in age structure. As age increases, dementia becomes more common as a cause of death. There are more women than men in the oldest age group.
Slightly more people died of lung cancer
In 2016, almost 10,7 thousand Dutch people died from lung cancer, an increase of just over 2 percent. With nearly 6,3 thousand deaths, lung cancer is still the main cause of death in men, followed by dementia and stroke. However, the difference between dementia and lung cancer is getting smaller. With almost 4,4 thousand cases, lung cancer is now a greater cause of death in women than breast cancer, with over 3,1 thousand deaths.
Stroke second leading cause of death in women
Nearly 9,5 thousand Dutch people died last year as a result of a stroke. As in 2015, stroke is the third leading cause of death. With more than 5,5 thousand cases, women more often died of a stroke than men (almost 4 thousand cases). Stroke is the second leading cause of death in women after dementia. The number of Dutch people who died from this condition fell slightly last year (-1 percent). The decline was about the same proportion among men and women.
Fewer women died of pneumonia
The number of women who died as a result of pneumonia fell by more than 2016 percent in 11 compared to a year earlier. Furthermore, fewer Dutch people died last year (-6 percent) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A year earlier there was still an increase of 20 percent. The number of people who died as a result of a heart attack decreased by 2016 percent in 6.
Strong increase in mortality from falls
Mortality from non-natural causes rose in 2016 compared to a year earlier by 6,4 percent to more than 7,7 thousand deaths. This increase is mainly related to an increase in the number of Dutch people who died after a fall. There were a total of 3,3 thousand, an increase of 16 percent. Assuming that unknown causes of injury are also largely due to falls, the number of deaths even amounts to approximately 3,8 thousand. Due to a difference in age structure, mortality due to falls is about one and a half times higher among women than among men.
I understand that more people die with dementia, but not that people die from dementia.
Or does dementia cause organ failure or heart failure?
You can die from the consequences of dementia, experienced yourself from close by. The person had become a greenhouse plant, with no prospect of improvement. In consultation with the family, he was given so much medication that his heart stopped. A form of euthanasia that is often used in nursing homes.
So you die by suicide and not by dementia.
Dementia is a serious disease and suicide is of course allowed.
l.lagemaat is somewhat right. You do not die from dementia, but from its consequences: often pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or an accident.
In 2013, the classification of causes of death was adjusted. Previously, a death was reported as follows: 'pneumonia as a result of dementia due to arteriosclerosis' (and pneumonia was therefore the primary cause of death, as I have always done) after 2013, 'dementia' was more often mentioned as the first cause (a international rule). That led to a sudden increase in dementia as the cause of death of 20 percent and that still has an effect.
In addition, the increase in dementia is due to the aging of the population: more older people who are also getting older.
Here are the original CBS publications:
https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2015/38/sterfte-aan-dementie-gestegen-tot-12-5-duizend
https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2017/29/dementie-oorzaak-een-op-de-tien-sterfgevallen
Alzheimer's can kill you. Here, several organs fail after some time and the patient dies. People die with dementia but not from dementia.
Read on the website of frieselongartsen.nl that 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking and only 15% survive. So dear smokers : take your pick.