In the week ending July 16, there were 3,020 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 12.6% 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.
Florida top 10 causes of death in week ending July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 666 | 22.1 |
| Heart disease | 618 | 20.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 224 | 7.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 219 | 7.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 162 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 147 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 102 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 87 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 57 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.1 |
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