In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 2,514 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5% were from cancer and 8.4% 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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 549 | 21.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 541 | 21.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 161 | 6.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 132 | 5.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 122 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 89 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 82 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 82 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 0.8 |
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