In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 2,169 deaths in the state. 19.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 7.7% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 469 | 21.6 |
| Heart disease | 431 | 19.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 116 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 109 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 108 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 97 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 69 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 69 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 45 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 0.7 |
