In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 4,182 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 4.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 877 | 21 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 849 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 270 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 221 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 146 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 120 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 120 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 85 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 67 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 47 | 1.1 |
Florida Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 341 | 8.2 |
Alerts Sign-up