In the week ending March 5, there were 2,445 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and 20.4% 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.
Florida top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 489 | 20 |
| Heart disease | 484 | 19.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 273 | 11.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 225 | 9.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 176 | 7.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 109 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 68 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 62 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 41 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1 |
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