There were 16 deaths with COVID-19 listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Sept. 10, 2022, a 40.7% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 10, 2022, there were 449 deaths in the state. 18.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.5% were from cancer and 9.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8% 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. 10, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 3, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 85 | 81 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 74 | 76 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 26 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 36 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 15 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 18 | 18 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 27 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 13 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 10, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 3, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 35 | 40 |
