In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 1,626 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 7.4% 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 Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 335 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 325 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 99 | 6.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 70 | 4.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 68 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 62 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 40 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 39 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1.6 |
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