In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 2,091 deaths in the state. 19.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.9% were from cancer and 5.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 407 | 19.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 374 | 17.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 131 | 6.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 124 | 5.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 74 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 72 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 69 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 52 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 36 | 1.7 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 208 | 9.9 |
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