In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 2,962 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 26% were from cancer and 8.5% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 769 | 26 |
| Heart disease | 583 | 19.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 192 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 189 | 6.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 152 | 5.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 126 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 101 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 83 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 46 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 38 | 1.3 |
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