In the week ending April 30, there were 819 deaths in the state. 17.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.6% were from cancer and 2.2% 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 April 30
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 193 | 23.6 |
| Heart disease | 140 | 17.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 8.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 50 | 6.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 5.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
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