In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 898 deaths in the state. 19.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 4.7% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 179 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 47 | 5.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 47 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 1.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
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