In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 1,522 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 6.3% 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. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 338 | 22.2 |
| Heart disease | 316 | 20.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 99 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 85 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 74 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 56 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 47 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 40 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 28 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 1.2 |
Alerts Sign-up