In the week ending July 22, there were 986 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.6% were from cancer and less than 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.4% 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 July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 197 | 20 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 193 | 19.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 49 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 39 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1 |
South Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 112 | 11.4 |
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