In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 1,759 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 7.8% 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. 27
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 374 | 21.3 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 371 | 21.1 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 102 | 5.8 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 81 | 4.6 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 75 | 4.3 |
Alzheimer's disease | 66 | 3.8 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 57 | 3.2 |
Diabetes mellitus | 36 | 2 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.9 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 28 | 1.6 |