In the week ending June 18, there were 1,285 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% were from cancer and 6% 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 June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 299 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 280 | 21.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 93 | 7.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 60 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 56 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 47 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 0.9 |
Alerts Sign-up