There were 28 deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases reported in West Virginia in the week ending May 7, making up 10.1% of total deaths by all causes in West Virginia, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 7, there were 277 deaths in the state. 19.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.4% were from cancer and less than 3.6% were from COVID-19.
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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 54 | 19.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 51 | 18.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 28 | 10.1 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 3.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 3.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 3.6 |
