In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 1,390 deaths in the state. 19% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1% were from cancer and 8.6% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 293 | 21.1 |
| Heart disease | 264 | 19 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 86 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 86 | 6.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 75 | 5.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 71 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 35 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.1 |
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