In the week ending July 1, there were 2,464 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 1.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 543 | 22 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 518 | 21 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 120 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 101 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 77 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 65 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 50 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 0.6 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 234 | 9.5 |
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