In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 2,204 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% were from cancer and 8.1% 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. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 514 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 474 | 21.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 113 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 106 | 4.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 93 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 72 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 54 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 50 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 0.9 |
Alerts Sign-up