In the week ending Oct. 29, there were 943 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 4.6% 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 Oct. 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 193 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 178 | 18.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 60 | 6.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 38 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
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