In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 976 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19% were from cancer and 6.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 201 | 20.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 185 | 19 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 54 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 53 | 5.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 38 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 25 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.7 |
South Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 109 | 11.2 |
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