There were 24 deaths with COVID-19 listed as a contributing cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Oct. 8, 2022, a 22.6% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 8, 2022, there were 489 deaths in the state. 19.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 8.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.6% 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 Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 97 | 77 |
| Heart disease | 94 | 100 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 26 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 31 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 19 | 24 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 20 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 12 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 24 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 14 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 8, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 37 | 30 |
