In the week ending March 19, 2022, there were 716 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.3% were from cancer and 7.1% 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 March 19, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 142 | 19.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 117 | 16.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 5.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.4 |
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