There were 43 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in South Carolina during the week ending Feb. 5, a 16.2 percent increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Feb. 5, there were 1,037 deaths in the state. 16 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 14.1 percent were from cancer and 44.3 percent 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2022-02-05 | Number of Deaths 2022-01-29 |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 250 | 268 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 209 | 238 |
| Heart disease | 166 | 149 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 146 | 142 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 46 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 43 | 37 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 41 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 26 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
