In the week ending June 18, there were 1,613 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 6.9% 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 June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 339 | 21 |
| Heart disease | 303 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 98 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 86 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 70 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 62 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 42 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1.6 |
Alerts Sign-up