In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 1,470 deaths in the state. 22.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1% were from cancer and 8.9% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 329 | 22.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 296 | 20.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 103 | 7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 80 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 73 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 53 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 3.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 0.7 |
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