In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 1,736 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.8% were from cancer and 5.4% 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. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 413 | 23.8 |
| Heart disease | 374 | 21.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 102 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 74 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 57 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 2.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 36 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 0.9 |
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