In the week ending Sept. 3, there were 811 deaths in the state. 18.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.6% were from cancer and 8.5% 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 Sept. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 151 | 18.6 |
| Heart disease | 149 | 18.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 5.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 44 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 41 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
Alerts Sign-up