In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 3,388 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.8% were from cancer and 3.7% 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 Oct. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 874 | 25.8 |
| Heart disease | 701 | 20.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 242 | 7.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 219 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 132 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 95 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 78 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 48 | 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 47 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 1.4 |
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