In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 3,010 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23% were from cancer and 11% 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. 27
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 693 | 23 |
| Heart disease | 624 | 20.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 212 | 7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 197 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 165 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 133 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 91 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 79 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 45 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 0.9 |
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