In the week ending July 22, there were 2,363 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 0.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.4% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 504 | 21.3 |
| Heart disease | 497 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 104 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 95 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 72 | 3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 65 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 59 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 20 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.4 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 222 | 9.4 |
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