In the week ending July 16, there were 1,217 deaths in the state. 20.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.4% were from cancer and 8.1% 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 July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 273 | 22.4 |
| Heart disease | 246 | 20.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 80 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 61 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 59 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 49 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1 |
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