In the week ending June 17, there were 1,958 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and 2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.2% 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 June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 436 | 22.3 |
| Heart disease | 368 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 96 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 87 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 76 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 1.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 0.8 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 200 | 10.2 |
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