In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 3,107 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24% were from cancer and 8.3% 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. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 746 | 24 |
| Heart disease | 612 | 19.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 246 | 7.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 171 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 162 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 97 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 86 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 83 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 52 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 38 | 1.2 |
Alerts Sign-up