In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 2,699 deaths in the state. 19.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.3% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 655 | 24.3 |
| Heart disease | 530 | 19.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 235 | 8.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 141 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 137 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 95 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 90 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 86 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 43 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 29 | 1.1 |
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