Old North News

There were less than 10 deaths from diabetes mellitus reported in North Carolina in the week ending May 22, making up less than 2.4 percent of total deaths by all causes in North Carolina, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending May 22, there were 411 deaths in the state. 9.5 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 14.1 percent were from cancer and 36.3 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.3 percent of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

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.

Cause of Death	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
COVID-19 (multiple cause)	76	18.5
COVID-19 (underlying cause)	73	17.8
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor)	58	14.1
Heart disease	39	9.5
Cerebrovascular diseases	18	4.4
Alzheimer's disease	10	2.4
Influenza and pneumonia	< 10	< 2.4
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis	< 10	< 2.4
Diabetes mellitus	< 10	< 2.4
Chronic lower respiratory diseases	< 10	< 2.4

Cause of Death	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
Alzheimer disease and dementia	34	8.3