There were 13 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending July 23, 2022, a 7.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 23, 2022, there were 464 deaths in the state. 17.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.2% were from cancer and 8.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 16, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 89 | 81 |
| Heart disease | 82 | 77 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 17 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 20 | 18 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 23 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 14 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending July 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 16, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 39 | 38 |
