In the week ending July 15, there were 2,458 deaths in the state. 21.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and 1.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% 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 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 567 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 525 | 21.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 101 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 66 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 60 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 50 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 32 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 0.5 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 217 | 8.8 |
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