In the week ending July 15, there were 1,952 deaths in the state. 22.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.7% were from cancer and 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 446 | 22.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 405 | 20.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 121 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 77 | 3.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 70 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 62 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.5 |
Illinois Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 173 | 8.9 |
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