In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 4,397 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.3% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 941 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 879 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 298 | 6.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 214 | 4.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 124 | 2.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 124 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 107 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 71 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 70 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 60 | 1.4 |
Florida Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 363 | 8.3 |
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