In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 3,037 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.2% were from cancer and 5.4% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 706 | 23.2 |
| Heart disease | 615 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 234 | 7.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 183 | 6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 115 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 102 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 83 | 2.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 63 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 1.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 36 | 1.2 |
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