In the week ending March 5, there were 765 deaths in the state. 16.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and 15.3% 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 March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 153 | 20 |
| Heart disease | 125 | 16.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 68 | 8.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 49 | 6.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 5.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 2.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.3 |
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