In the week ending July 9, there were 1,723 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 6.3% 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 9
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 382 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 351 | 20.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 114 | 6.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 84 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 62 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 36 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1.5 |
Alerts Sign-up