In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 1,654 deaths in the state. 21.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 7.7% were from COVID-19.
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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 362 | 21.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 359 | 21.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 89 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 76 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 71 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 53 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 39 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 24 | 1.5 |
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