In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 927 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.8% were from cancer and 11.4% 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. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 188 | 20.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 156 | 16.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 62 | 6.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 60 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 29 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1.2 |
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