In the week ending May 14, there were 1,469 deaths in the state. 20.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 4.4% 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.
Illinois top 10 causes of death in week ending May 14
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 303 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 296 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 94 | 6.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 35 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 1.6 |
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