In the week ending July 16, there were 1,863 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.8% were from cancer and 9.7% 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 July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 388 | 20.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 387 | 20.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 113 | 6.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 106 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 92 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 91 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 75 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 57 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 41 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 0.9 |
