In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 2,105 deaths in the state. 22.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 8.9% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 478 | 22.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 448 | 21.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 111 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 79 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 77 | 3.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 59 | 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 50 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 46 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1.4 |
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