In the week ending May 21, there were 1,912 deaths in the state. 20.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% 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 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 384 | 20.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 361 | 18.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 113 | 5.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 113 | 5.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 85 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 57 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 26 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 1 |
