In the week ending July 23, there were 3,147 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 12.7% 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 23
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 700 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 630 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 276 | 8.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 239 | 7.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 160 | 5.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 152 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 100 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 81 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 54 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.1 |
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