In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 3,174 deaths in the state. 18.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.2% were from cancer and 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 Aug. 27
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 768 | 24.2 |
| Heart disease | 574 | 18.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 229 | 7.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 208 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 152 | 4.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 137 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 111 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 101 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 38 | 1.2 |
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