In the week ending May 21, there were 1,112 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.4% were from cancer and 3.9% 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 21
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 249 | 22.4 |
| Heart disease | 215 | 19.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 61 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 56 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 28 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
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