In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,771 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 2.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 370 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 363 | 20.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 105 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 88 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 61 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 31 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 1 |
North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 160 | 9 |
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