In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 1,122 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.7% were from cancer and 7.7% 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. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 255 | 22.7 |
| Heart disease | 228 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 6.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 55 | 4.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 46 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 45 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.4 |
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