In the week ending May 21, there were 2,813 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 4.6% 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.
California top 10 causes of death in week ending May 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 601 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 600 | 21.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 198 | 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 177 | 6.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 131 | 4.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 101 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 78 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 48 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 42 | 1.5 |
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