In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 2,385 deaths in the state. 22.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 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 Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 542 | 22.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 526 | 22.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 142 | 6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 130 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 115 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 79 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 54 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 43 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 32 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 1.2 |
