In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 1,488 deaths in the state. 21.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 6.7% 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. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 331 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 325 | 21.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 83 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 74 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 72 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 66 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 38 | 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 33 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 32 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.1 |
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