In the week ending Oct. 22, there were 1,508 deaths in the state. 19.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 7.4% 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. 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 323 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 294 | 19.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 99 | 6.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 92 | 6.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 71 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 65 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 45 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 1.5 |
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