In the week ending March 5, there were 731 deaths in the state. 16.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.7% were from cancer and 15% 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.
South Carolina top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 137 | 18.7 |
| Heart disease | 120 | 16.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 59 | 8.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 6.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 5.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.4 |
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