In the week ending May 15, 2021, there were 2,679 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 14.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% 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 May 15, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 570 | 21.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 532 | 19.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 207 | 7.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 181 | 6.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 125 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 97 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 73 | 2.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 68 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 48 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 23 | 0.9 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending May 15, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 228 | 8.5 |
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