In the week ending July 23, there were 1,742 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.4% were from cancer and 7.2% 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 23
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 360 | 20.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 356 | 20.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 108 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 98 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 75 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 61 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 50 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 48 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 47 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 2 |
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