There were 12 deaths with nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Sept. 24, 2022, a 7.7% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 24, 2022, there were 454 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.4% were from cancer and 10.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.7% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 92 | 89 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 79 | 83 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 29 | 32 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 28 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 19 | 22 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 18 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 14 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 35 | 36 |
