In the week ending July 16, there were 3,019 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.8% were from cancer and 9.8% 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 July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 750 | 24.8 |
| Heart disease | 643 | 21.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 197 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 194 | 6.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 178 | 5.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 119 | 3.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 117 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 97 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 44 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 37 | 1.2 |
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