In the week ending May 7, there were 1,106 deaths in the state. 17.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 3.3% 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 May 7
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 237 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 194 | 17.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 86 | 7.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 51 | 4.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 1.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
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