In the week ending June 24, there were 2,489 deaths in the state. 22.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 1.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7% 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 June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 567 | 22.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 527 | 21.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 104 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 75 | 3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 49 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 48 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 0.4 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 217 | 8.7 |
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