There were 21 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in South Carolina in the week ending May 22, making up 2.3 percent of total deaths by all causes in South Carolina, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 22, there were 901 deaths in the state. 17 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9 percent were from cancer and 5.8 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2 percent 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.
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 153 | 17 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 47 | 5.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 46 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 28 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 1.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 1.1 |
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 101 | 11.2 |
