In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 2,397 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 503 | 21 |
| Heart disease | 499 | 20.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 111 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 108 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 69 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 58 | 2.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 58 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 35 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 0.5 |
Pennsylvania Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 229 | 9.6 |
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