In the week ending May 21, there were 1,758 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 7.5% 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 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 395 | 22.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 388 | 22.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 77 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 75 | 4.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 73 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 56 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 40 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 33 | 1.9 |
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