In the week ending July 16, there were 1,676 deaths in the state. 20.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and 7.9% 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 July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 365 | 21.8 |
| Heart disease | 337 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 102 | 6.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 76 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 64 | 3.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 62 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 56 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 46 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1.8 |
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