In the week ending May 21, there were 1,491 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 3.5% 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 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 297 | 19.9 |
| Heart disease | 294 | 19.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 99 | 6.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 86 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 56 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 45 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 32 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 1.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1 |
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