In the week ending Oct. 15, there were 809 deaths in the state. 18.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 5.1% 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. 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 169 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 152 | 18.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 41 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 1.4 |
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