In the week ending May 7, there were 1,859 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and 4.2% 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.
Pennsylvania top 10 causes of death in week ending May 7
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 437 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 373 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 110 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 98 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 52 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 48 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 2.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 1.6 |
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