In the week ending Aug. 13, there were 799 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21% were from cancer and 9.6% 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 Aug. 13
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 168 | 21 |
| Heart disease | 154 | 19.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 46 | 5.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 35 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.3 |
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