In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 2,970 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 693 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 641 | 21.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 227 | 7.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 202 | 6.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 161 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 124 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 93 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 62 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 52 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 0.8 |
Alerts Sign-up