Yes, that is exactly what's happening. A person who has COPD, CHF, Cardiomyopathy, etc. catches the kung flu and dies. The kung flu gets the kill. It's not fair. 
Think about the nursing homes. Half the residents are circling the drain already, and would probably die soon, without kung flu's help. Why does China Virus get all the glory? 
It’s the exact same playbook as the AIDS scare. No matter what kind of ailment you had, if there was also an HIV positive test, it’s AIDS.
To answer your question: to pad the numbers.
This is from the Left leaning Guardian. Could the description be any more vague?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/23/have-i-already-had-covid19-coronavirusCould I have had it and been asymptomatic?
Hillmann: Coronavirus is actually quite a significant spectrum of symptoms, from people who are entirely asymptomatic and would have no idea that they have it to people with very mild, cold-like symptoms – runny nose, congestion, sore throat – to people with more flu-like symptoms – high fevers, muscle aches, shortness of breath and cough. All the way up to people with severe illness, who we’re seeing in the hospital with respiratory failure, requiring ICU care.