There were 23 deaths with cerebrovascular disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending June 11, 2022, a 21.1% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 11, 2022, there were 402 deaths in the state. 17.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.4% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.2% 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 June 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 90 | 78 |
| Heart disease | 69 | 76 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 26 | 26 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 23 | 19 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 13 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 10 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 15 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 11, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 37 | 45 |
