In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 2,956 deaths in the state. 22.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8% were from cancer and 7.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.6% 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 Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 663 | 22.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 525 | 17.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 144 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 133 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 130 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 85 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 83 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 78 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 63 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 54 | 1.8 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 254 | 8.6 |
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