In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 2,812 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 8.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 610 | 21.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 532 | 18.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 138 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 137 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 131 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 91 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 81 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 80 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 67 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 42 | 1.5 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 253 | 9 |
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