In the week ending July 23, there were 1,336 deaths in the state. 19.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.7% were from cancer and 10.6% 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 July 23
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 290 | 21.7 |
| Heart disease | 259 | 19.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 88 | 6.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 86 | 6.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 74 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 67 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 55 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.1 |
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