In the week ending June 24, there were 2,010 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and 1.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 465 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 379 | 18.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 116 | 5.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 94 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 85 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 55 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 0.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 0.5 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 210 | 10.4 |
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