In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 2,289 deaths in the state. 19.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.5% were from cancer and 5.4% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 538 | 23.5 |
| Heart disease | 443 | 19.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 131 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 125 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 110 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 93 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 75 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 57 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 49 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 0.7 |
