In the week ending July 2, there were 1,635 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.2% were from cancer and 6.1% 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 July 2
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 351 | 21.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 347 | 21.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 95 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 83 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 78 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 56 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 43 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 1.3 |
Alerts Sign-up