In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 858 deaths in the state. 15.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 25.9% were from cancer and 5.6% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 222 | 25.9 |
| Heart disease | 131 | 15.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 46 | 5.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 40 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 2.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 1.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 1.4 |
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