In the week ending July 15, there were 1,863 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.7% 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 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 390 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 359 | 19.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 118 | 6.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 84 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 61 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 59 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.5 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 144 | 7.7 |
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