In the week ending July 8, there were 2,526 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 0.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% 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 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 564 | 22.3 |
| Heart disease | 556 | 22 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 133 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 86 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 75 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 62 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.4 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 213 | 8.4 |
Alerts Sign-up