In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 2,065 deaths in the state. 22.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and 7.3% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 471 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 470 | 22.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 90 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 89 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 70 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 60 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 52 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 20 | 1 |
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