In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 2,421 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 6.1% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 539 | 22.3 |
| Heart disease | 491 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 137 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 134 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 131 | 5.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 88 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 59 | 2.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 55 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 43 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1 |
