In the week ending Feb. 26, there were 724 deaths in the state. 15.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8 percent were from cancer and 23.3 percent 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.
North Carolina top 10 causes of death in week ending Feb. 26
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 136 | 18.8 |
| Heart disease | 111 | 15.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 97 | 13.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 72 | 9.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 47 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 29 | 4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.4 |
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