In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 1,814 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 8.8% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 405 | 22.3 |
| Heart disease | 373 | 20.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 109 | 6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 90 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 72 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 69 | 3.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 67 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 50 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 49 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 31 | 1.7 |
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