In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 3,091 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 13.2% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 663 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 636 | 20.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 244 | 7.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 236 | 7.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 164 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 145 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 100 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 75 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 53 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1 |
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