In the week ending July 29, there were 1,914 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 1.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7% 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 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 392 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 379 | 19.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 99 | 5.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 86 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 77 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 66 | 3.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 27 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 0.6 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 204 | 10.7 |
Alerts Sign-up