In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 2,700 deaths in the state. 23.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and 7.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 636 | 23.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 514 | 19 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 120 | 4.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 4.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 102 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 88 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 87 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 87 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 81 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 62 | 2.3 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 268 | 9.9 |
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