In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 4,423 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and 3.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.1% 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. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 974 | 22 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 883 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 304 | 6.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 243 | 5.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 133 | 3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 126 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 96 | 2.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 64 | 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 62 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 46 | 1 |
Florida Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 358 | 8.1 |
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