In the week ending May 14, there were 2,024 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 2.4% 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.
Texas top 10 causes of death in week ending May 14
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 429 | 21.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 409 | 20.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 100 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 87 | 4.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 83 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 70 | 3.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 0.9 |
