In the week ending June 25, there were 3,022 deaths in the state. 19.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.5% were from cancer and 7.1% 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.
California top 10 causes of death in week ending June 25
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 770 | 25.5 |
| Heart disease | 602 | 19.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 225 | 7.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 215 | 7.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 129 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 125 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 110 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 91 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 28 | 0.9 |
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