In the week ending July 1, there were 1,836 deaths in the state. 18.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 2.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 402 | 21.9 |
| Heart disease | 344 | 18.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 101 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 79 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 60 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 54 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 0.8 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 151 | 8.2 |
Alerts Sign-up