In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 2,243 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 9.5% 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 Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 526 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 441 | 19.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 125 | 5.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 116 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 94 | 4.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 87 | 3.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 75 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 59 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 56 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 33 | 1.5 |
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