In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 1,709 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.5% were from cancer and 5.6% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 402 | 23.5 |
| Heart disease | 356 | 20.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 99 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 80 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 58 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 53 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 42 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 38 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1.5 |
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