In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 710 deaths in the state. 17.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 8.7% were from COVID-19.
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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 157 | 22.1 |
| Heart disease | 123 | 17.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 55 | 7.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 6.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 1.4 |
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