In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,147 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8% were from cancer and 1.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 234 | 20.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 204 | 17.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 4.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 1.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.9 |
South Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 123 | 10.7 |
Alerts Sign-up