In the week ending May 21, there were 2,505 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 4.1% 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 May 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 549 | 21.9 |
| Heart disease | 496 | 19.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 197 | 7.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 141 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 86 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 65 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 64 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.4 |
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