In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 2,713 deaths in the state. 20.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 10.3% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 601 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 549 | 20.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 159 | 5.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 147 | 5.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 146 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 120 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 115 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 91 | 3.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 64 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 26 | 1 |
